Rodrigo López
Encyclopedia
Rodrigo López Muñoz is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
. López was a pitcher
in the Mexican League in when the San Diego Padres
purchased his contract.
and Triple-A Portland Beavers
. He became a free agent after the 2001 season.
López joined the Baltimore Orioles
in where he went 15–9 and in the process was runner-up for AL
Rookie of the Year
. was a disappointment for López, as he went 7–10 in an injury-marred campaign. In , he was moved to middle relief but pitched his way back into the starting rotation. That year, his record was 14–9. On January 12, , he was traded to the Colorado Rockies
for minor leaguers Jason Burch and Jim Miller
. López underwent Tommy John surgery
on August 22, 2007, and became a free agent at the end of the season.
On August 22, , exactly one year after his surgery, he signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves
. The contract included the rest of 2008, and , with a major league option. He started his Braves career by pitching for the Gulf Coast League Braves, before being promoted to Single-A Rome
. He was released by the Braves in November 2008.
on July 3, 2009 and started that night against the New York Mets, allowing two runs in 6 innings to pick up the win in a 7–2 Phillies victory. It was his first win in the major leagues since he defeated the Phillies on July 7, 2007 as a member of the Colorado Rockies. On September 9, he was released by the Phillies.
on December 16, 2009. On March 30, 2010, Lopez was named the Diamondbacks 4th starter after having a wonderful spring training compiling a 2.35 ERA in 5 games with 4 game starts in 15.1 innings.
His regular season was just the opposite of wonderful, however, with an ERA of a flat 5.00 starting in 33 games. He won 7 games, and lost 16.
. Atlanta sent him to Triple A at the end of Spring Training where he will start Opening Day for the Gwinnett Braves
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. López was a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in the Mexican League in when the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
purchased his contract.
Major League Baseball career
He worked his way up to the major leagues with the Padres, when he made his debut on April 29, . López did not appear in the majors in , but spent the entire year with the High Single-A Lake Elsinore StormLake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm is a minor league baseball team in Lake Elsinore, California, USA. It is a Class A - Advanced team in the California League, and is a farm team of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond...
and Triple-A Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
. He became a free agent after the 2001 season.
López joined the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in where he went 15–9 and in the process was runner-up for AL
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
Rookie of the Year
Rookie of the Year award
K-League Rookie of the Year Award is newly established in 1985 that third season in K-League. Many star players were received this award such as Lee Dong-Gook, Lee Chun-Soo, and so on.- Winners :- See also:* K-League MVP Award...
. was a disappointment for López, as he went 7–10 in an injury-marred campaign. In , he was moved to middle relief but pitched his way back into the starting rotation. That year, his record was 14–9. On January 12, , he was traded to the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
for minor leaguers Jason Burch and Jim Miller
Jim Miller (pitcher)
James Matthew "Jim" Miller is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball.-Career:...
. López underwent Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
on August 22, 2007, and became a free agent at the end of the season.
On August 22, , exactly one year after his surgery, he signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. The contract included the rest of 2008, and , with a major league option. He started his Braves career by pitching for the Gulf Coast League Braves, before being promoted to Single-A Rome
Rome Braves
The Rome Braves are a Class-A minor league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. In 2003, the team, previously known as the Macon Braves, moved from Macon, Georgia, to Rome, Georgia, 60 miles northwest of Atlanta....
. He was released by the Braves in November 2008.
Philadelphia Phillies
On March 5, 2009, López signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was called up to the Phillies from the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigsLehigh Valley IronPigs
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a minor league baseball team that plays in the International League. The IronPigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The team plays their home games at Coca-Cola Park, which is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania...
on July 3, 2009 and started that night against the New York Mets, allowing two runs in 6 innings to pick up the win in a 7–2 Phillies victory. It was his first win in the major leagues since he defeated the Phillies on July 7, 2007 as a member of the Colorado Rockies. On September 9, he was released by the Phillies.
Arizona Diamondbacks
López was signed to a minor league contract by the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
on December 16, 2009. On March 30, 2010, Lopez was named the Diamondbacks 4th starter after having a wonderful spring training compiling a 2.35 ERA in 5 games with 4 game starts in 15.1 innings.
His regular season was just the opposite of wonderful, however, with an ERA of a flat 5.00 starting in 33 games. He won 7 games, and lost 16.
Atlanta Braves
On January 31, 2011, López signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. Atlanta sent him to Triple A at the end of Spring Training where he will start Opening Day for the Gwinnett Braves
Gwinnett Braves
The Gwinnett Braves are a minor league baseball team in the International League, the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Atlanta Braves. The team was previously the Richmond Braves for 43 seasons . On January 14, 2008, it was announced that the Richmond Braves would move from Richmond,...
.