Javier López (baseball)

Puerto Rican baseball player (born 1977)
the Major League Baseball pitcher

Javier Alfonso López Palmer (born July 11, 1977) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies (2003–05), Arizona Diamondbacks (2005), Boston Red Sox (2006–09), Pittsburgh Pirates (2010), and San Francisco Giants (2010–16). He was a left handed specialist known for his sidearm delivery. López attended the University of Virginia, earning a degree in psychology despite leaving early to begin his baseball career. In 1997, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth round of the 1998 Major League Baseball draft. He began his career as a starting pitcher but struggled, and was converted into a sidearm (or submarine) reliever while still in the Diamondbacks' organization. Before the 2003 season, he was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the Rule 5 draft, but was traded to the Colorado Rockies during spring training. He spent all of 2003 on Colorado's roster, nearly tying the franchise record for most consecutive batters retired and finishing third among major league rookies in games pitched. He struggled the next two seasons, getting claimed off waivers and later sent to the minors by Arizona in 2005. In 2006, he signed with the Chicago White Sox but failed to make the team and spent the first part of the season in the minors before getting traded to Boston during the year. López served four stints with Boston in 2006. In 2007, he had three different stints but appeared in 61 games, posting a 3.10 earned run average (ERA). He posted a 15.43 ERA in the playoffs but won his first World Series ring as the Red Sox defeated Colorado in four games. In 2008, he spent the entire season on a major league roster for the first time since 2003. He posted a 9.26 ERA in his first 14 games of 2009 before getting sent to the minors for the rest of the season. In 2010, he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates but was traded to the San Francisco Giants during the season. He had his lowest ERA that year (2.34) and won another World Series as the Giants defeated the Texas Rangers to win their first World Series since 1954. In 2011, López was one of two major league relief pitchers to throw at least 50 innings without giving up a home run. He won his third World Series in 2012 as the Giants defeated the Detroit Tigers in four games. In 2013, López posted a career best 1.83 ERA. He won his fourth World Series in 2014 as the Giants defeated the Kansas City Royals in seven games. López announced his retirement on February 8, 2017.

Although he was born in Puerto Rico, López grew up in Fairfax, Virginia. He and his wife, Renee, attended Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax, Virginia. Growing up, his dream was to be an FBI agent like his father. López went to college at the University of Virginia (UVA) and played for the Virginia Cavaliers baseball team. Through June 2022, he was one of 38 former UVA players to have made it to the major leagues, along with Mark Reynolds and Ryan Zimmerman among others. While playing at UVA, he went 12–9 with a 6.30 earned run average (ERA). As a hitter, he had a batting average of .319, 15 home runs, and 71 runs batted in (RBI). However, while still at UVA, he discovered that pitching was most likely to get him to the major leagues. Despite leaving college after only three years to play professional baseball, López continued working on his degree in psychology, which he earned in 2002 to fulfill a promise to his father in law. He also said, "I had done three years at a great university. I figured I should finish." In 2000, López was promoted to the High Desert Mavericks of the A Advanced California League. In 30 games (21 starts), he had a 4–8 record, a 5.22 ERA, 98 strikeouts, and two saves in 136 1/3 innings. However, on March 18 he was traded to the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later (Ryan Cameron). López made the roster and made his MLB debut for the Rockies on Opening Day in 2003, pitching a scoreless inning in a 10–4 loss to the Houston Astros. He got his first major league strikeout in his next game on April 5, punching out Tony Womack in a 4–3 victory over the Diamondbacks. On April 10, he got his first win, pitching 2/3 scoreless innings in a 7–6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. He posted an 0.72 ERA, which led all NL relievers, in his first 30 games through June 8, posting an 18 2/3 innings scoreless streak at the end of that run. From July 31 through August 16, López almost tied a franchise record by retiring 18 straight hitters over the span of 17 days, but he fell short of the record of 21 set by Darren Holmes in 1996 when he intentionally walked Jason Phillips in a 13–4 loss to the New York Mets. On August 12, he recorded his first career save by pitching a scoreless 11th inning in a 6–3 victory over the Montreal Expos. He played in 72 games, the third most among rookies in the major leagues, trailing only Óscar Villareal (86) and Brad Lidge (78). He had a 4–1 record, a 3.70 ERA, and 1 save. While in AAA, he went 0–1 and had a 4.00 ERA in eight games. He pitched better the rest of the season, allowing only two runs for a 1.54 ERA in his final 18 games. In 64 games, López had a 1–2 record, a 7.52 ERA, 20 strikeouts, and no saves in 40 2/3 innings.

Before he could appear in any games with Colorado Springs, López was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 14. Due to major league rules, Arizona was unable to call him up until April 24. He had another poor season, having a record of 1–1 and an 11.02 ERA, the highest in the majors among relievers who made at least 30 appearances. He cleared waivers and was sent down to the Tucson Sidewinders of the Pacific Coast League for the rest of the season. He went 0–1 with a 2.22 ERA.

López signed a minor league deal for the Chicago White Sox in 2006. Playing for the Charlotte Knights of the International League, he went 2–1 with 12 saves and an 0.55 ERA in 26 games. He posted a 4.32 ERA in 14 appearances before getting sent to the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League on July 17 because it was too "tough" for the Red Sox to carry a left handed specialist at that point in the season, according to manager Terry Francona. He was called up for two short stints from July 28 through August 1 and from August 20 through 22, appearing in one game each time. On September 4, he was recalled for the remainder of the season. He was recalled on May 11 when Devern Hansack was sent down. On this stint, he posted a 3.18 ERA in 40 appearances before getting sent down on August 5 to make room for Curt Schilling, who was returning from the disabled list. With the Red Sox about to face several tough left handed hitters in late August, Jon Lester was sent down on August 23 to make room for López on the roster. In 2007, López made 61 appearances, posting a 2–1 record with a 3.10 ERA in 40 2/3 innings.

On January 18, 2008, López agreed to a one year contract with the Red Sox for $840,000, avoiding the arbitration process. In 2008, López spent the full season on a major league roster for the first time since his rookie year. In 70 games, López had a 2–0 record, a 2.43 ERA, and 38 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings pitched. He had the fifth lowest ERA among major league left handed relievers and appeared in the fifth most games of AL left handers. He had the second lowest ERA among Red Sox pitchers in 2008. That was Boston's only loss of the series, as they defeated the Angels in four games. He made two appearances in the AL Championship Series (ALCS) against the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing no runs as the Red Sox were defeated in seven games.

On April 30, 2009, López allowed five runs in 1/3 inning and played the remainder of the eighth inning in right field after Francona switched him with right fielder Jonathan Van Every. This game, a 13–0 loss to the Rays, was the first time a Red Sox pitcher had played another position in a major league game since Tom Burgmeier played left field on August 3, 1980. On May 10, López was designated for assignment to make room for pitcher Daniel Bard after he started the year 0–2 with a 9.26 ERA in 14 games. Shortly thereafter, he was outrighted to the minors. He spent the rest of the season in Pawtucket, going 1–1 with a 3.18 ERA in 38 games. After posting a 10.80 ERA in his first two games, he posted a 2.43 ERA over his next 48 through July 31.

On July 31, 2010, López was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Joe Martinez and John Bowker. He appeared in 27 games for the Giants, earning a 2–0 record with an ERA of 1.42. His combined record of 4–2 for the year with both Pittsburgh and San Francisco came in 77 appearances with an ERA of 2.34, both career records. Left handed batters hit only .162 against López, lowest among all National League left handers (minimum 85 at bats). López reached the playoffs as the Giants won the NL West for the first time since 2003. He made two appearances in the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves to face Jason Heyward, whom he struck out both times. Against the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS, he made five appearances, all scoreless except for Game 4, in which he allowed a run. López made two appearances against the Texas Rangers in the 2010 World Series, striking out the two batters he faced. In Game 2, he struck out Josh Hamilton to end the top of the eighth inning with a runner on second and preserve a 2–0 lead, although the Giants went on to win 9–0.

After joining the Giants in 2010, López became one of the premier lefty specialists in the game. On May 12, 2011, he recorded his first save since 2006 in a 3–2 victory over the Diamondbacks. Following the game, he crossed his arms, imitating Giants' closer Brian Wilson's post save gesture. In 70 games in 2011, he had a 5–2 record, a 2.72 ERA, and 40 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched. He and Brad Ziegler were the only relief pitchers in the major leagues to toss at least 50 innings without allowing a home run. His .163 opponent batting average (OBA) against left handers was the eighth lowest in the NL. On July 6, 2012, López gave up his first home run since joining the Giants in 2010 when he allowed a 457 foot home run to Pedro Álvarez in a 6–5 victory over the Pirates. That brought his ERA to 4.00, but he posted a 1.00 ERA over his last 32 games. Following struggles by Santiago Casilla (who had replaced an injured Wilson as the Giants' closer), Giants' manager Bruce Bochy announced on August 7 that the Giants would be going to a "bullpen by committee" strategy, with López, Sergio Romo, and Jeremy Affeldt pitching the final two innings of close games, depending on which hitters they would be facing. Romo and López received most of the save opportunities; Affeldt only had one save after that point. López received six save opportunities after August 7 and converted each of them.

López recorded his only save of the 2013 season on September 19, pitching the final 2/3 of the ninth inning in a 2–1 victory over the Mets. He made 69 appearances in 2013, going 4–2 with a career best 1.83 ERA and striking out 37 in 39 1/3 innings. He held left handed hitters to a .156 OBA.

López appeared in 65 games in 2014, recording a 3.11 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 19 walks. In the 2014 NLDS, NLCS, and World Series, he recorded 11 outs over nine appearances, allowing 4 hits and a walk. Lopez won his fourth World Series ring as the Giants defeated the Kansas City Royals in seven games.

In 2015, López matched his career high with 77 appearances, setting new career bests with a 1.60 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. He struck out 26 batters in 391/3 innings pitched.

López appeared in 68 games in 2016, recording a 4.05 ERA with 15 strikeouts and 15 walks in 262/3 innings pitched. Along with teammate Brandon Crawford, López won the Willie Mac Award, which honors the Giants' most inspirational player.

López announced his retirement on February 8, 2017. Soon afterwards, he re joined the Giants as a special instructor during spring training. In February 2017 it was announced that Lopez, along with Jeremy Affeldt, would be serving as part time color analysts on Giants telecasts throughout the 2017 season, due to regular analyst Mike Krukow reducing his schedule. On June 2, Lopez joined, for the first time, the other KNBR Giant's radio broadcasters during the after game 'wrap up' show.

López's main pitch is a two seam fastball in the mid 80s, and his secondary pitch is a slider in the high 70s. Against left handed hitters he will sometimes mix in a curveball. López's distinctive sidearm delivery makes him appealing as a left handed specialist; through his career, lefties hit only .202 against him, while righties hit .297. After López struggled to begin his professional career, throwing over the top, he decided he needed to change his style.

López is married to Renée Richards, with whom he attended high school and college. The couple has two children: Kylan (March 19, 2010) and Christian (October 26, 2012). López is a Christian. He says, "I do everything through faith, for sure."