Nicky Lopez finds relief in joining forces with former nemesis Jacob deGrom while bolstering the Rangers’ injury-thinned defense.
Nicky Lopez’s first day with the Texas Rangers came with a surprising bonus.
After signing with Texas and immediately joining the active roster Wednesday, Lopez found himself sharing a clubhouse with Jacob deGrom, a pitcher he has spent years trying unsuccessfully to solve at the plate.
Lopez joked about the situation afterward, saying he was happy to finally be on the same side as deGrom after struggling against him throughout his career.
“I’m glad I’m sharing the diamond with Jacob deGrom now,” Lopez told MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry on Wednesday. “I don’t ever wanna see him again.”
The Rangers added Lopez before Wednesday’s game against the Houston Astros after designating former National League MVP Andrew McCutchen for assignment. Lopez was designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs last week and was signed shortly after electing free agency
Texas wasted little time getting him involved.
Lopez was inserted directly into the starting lineup at second base in place of Justin Foscue. He later moved to shortstop after Ezequiel Duran exited the game because of illness.
The veteran utility infielder went 0-for-3 in his Rangers debut, though offensive production is not necessarily the primary reason Texas pursued him.
Lopez spent only four games with the Cubs this season and went hitless in five at-bats before becoming a free agent. Since debuting with the Kansas City Royals in 2019, he has appeared in 694 major league games while producing a .245/.309/.310 slash line.
Power has never been a major part of his profile. Lopez has hit only seven home runs during his major league career, but he brings speed, contact ability, and positional versatility.
He has recorded four seasons with at least 10 stolen bases and has extensive experience throughout the infield, particularly at second base and shortstop.
That versatility arrives at an important time for Texas.
Both Corey Seager and Josh Smith remain on the Injured List and are still expected to miss at least a couple more weeks. Lopez provides additional depth while also easing some of the workload on players such as Foscue.
His biggest value may come defensively.
Lopez owns a career .989 fielding percentage, including a .990 mark at second base. During the 2021 season with Kansas City, he led the American League shortstops with a .987 fielding percentage.
By comparison, Foscue owns a .967 fielding percentage at second base and recently committed a costly error during a loss to the Los Angeles Angels that contributed to the game’s outcome.
For the Rangers, Lopez offers a different skill set than some of the club’s current options. While he is unlikely to provide significant power production, his defensive reliability, positional flexibility, and ability to put the ball in play could help fill an important role while Texas waits for several key players to return.
The opportunity also gives Lopez a chance to establish himself as a valuable roster piece even after Seager and Smith eventually make their way back into the lineup.
