Miami Marlins shortstop Otto López made a highlight-reel throw for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.
Miami Marlins shortstop Otto López continues to build momentum ahead of the 2026 MLB season, this time shining on the international stage at the World Baseball Classic.
Representing Team Canada, López delivered one of the most impressive defensive highlights of the tournament during Canada’s matchup against Panama. The Marlins infielder showed off his elite arm strength and instincts with a laser throw from the infield to nail a runner at home plate, a play that quickly circulated across social media and showcased why Miami believes he can anchor the position long-term.
For Marlins fans, the play served as another reminder that López’s defensive reputation is quickly catching up to his overall value.
Since being claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants, López has quietly become one of the most productive pickups of the Peter Bendix era. In less than two full seasons with Miami, he has already accumulated 4.8 fWAR, tying Xavier Edwards for the most value produced by any Marlins player in that span.
Beyond the highlight plays, analysts at Fish On First believe López is primed for a true breakout this season, pointing to underlying data that suggests his offensive game is trending upward.
Between 2024 and 2025, López improved several key Statcast metrics. His barrel rate jumped from 5.1 percent to 7.1, while his strikeout rate dropped significantly from 17.3 percent to 13.8. He also cut down on chase rate and whiffs while improving expected metrics like expected slugging percentage and expected weighted on-base average.
Those numbers suggest López actually hit the ball better in 2025 than his traditional statistics indicated.
Much of the discrepancy came down to bad luck on balls in play, particularly at loanDepot park. López posted a much stronger OPS on the road than at home, along with a noticeable gap in batting average on balls in play.
Defensively, he also proved he could stick at shortstop full-time. After switching positions with Xavier Edwards, López finished the season with plus-four outs above average and plus-seven defensive runs saved.
If his batted-ball luck normalizes and his improving plate discipline continues trending upward, López could emerge as one of the most valuable shortstops in the National League.
Based on both his international performance and his advanced metrics, the Marlins may already have one of baseball’s most underrated players holding down the middle of their infield.
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