Royals Officially Promote Top Infield Prospect Nicky Lopez
By Sean Facey
The potential future faces of the Kansas City Royals are starting to make their way to Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals have officially promoted their top infield prospect Nicky Lopez ahead of Tuesday night's game against the Texas Rangers.
INF Nicky Lopez will be selected from Omaha to the active roster prior to tomorrow night’s game against Texas. #Royals
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) May 13, 2019
Lopez is the No. 8 overall prospect and top-ranked middle infielder in Kansas City's system. He's a well-rounded hitter whose only real weakness is in the power department, but he more than makes up for it in-plate discipline.
He has 20 walks and just five strikeouts in 138 plate appearances this year in Triple-A, and he has 28 more walks than strikeouts in his four years in the minors.
The 2019 call-up is definitely deserved. He's posted a .957 OPS in the minors this year, a marked improvement from a .799 finish in 2018.
Nicky Lopez has walked four times for every strikeout this year at Triple-A.
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) May 14, 2019
And he's the #KCRoyals new second baseman: https://t.co/WK0KqIRhiX pic.twitter.com/clZuavt0GR
The former fifth-round pick will play second base for Kansas City, as the team announced that it plans to move Whit Merrifield to left field.
Lopez is just one of the many intriguing prospects the Royals have stashed away in the minors. His ascent could mark the beginning of the future for the rebuilding club.