After What He And His Family Have Gone Through These Past Few Years, No One Deserves To Be An All-Star More Than Jorge Lopez
Not only are the Orioles the hottest team in baseball currently, they have maybe the best story in baseball not heir team as well. Jorge Lopez was named an All-Star yesterday and it wasn't just because the Orioles need a representative, it was because he deserved it. We can talk about his numbers on the field, the 16 saves, the 1.74 ERA, the 0.968 WHIP, the 47 Ks in 41.1 innings, but the real story is everything he's gone through off the field. It starts with Lopez being DFA'd in 2020. If the Royals don't want you then that is saying something.
The Orioles picked him up and trotted him out as a starter and it did not go well. He'd show good stuff for 2-3 innings and then just implode. It was clear he had the stuff but wasn't a length guy. Over 6 seasons his numbers as a starter are awful, 11-29 with a 6.36 ERA and a 1.579 WHIP, and his numbers in 25 starts for the Os last year were horrid. 6.35 ERA, and a 1.677 WHIP, puke. The Orioles moved him to the bullpen during the last half of 2021 and he started the 2022 season as their closer. He took that job by the horns and hasn't looked back. Even with 2 blown saves vs the Twins a few days back he's been absolutely NAILS. He's been one of the best relievers in baseball, especially in June when he was 7 for 7 in saves, didn't give up an earned run, and struck out 17 in his 11 appearances. That comeback by itself is amazing, but the other stuff off the field makes this All-Star nod so much more awesome for the Lopez family.
Lopez's son, Mikael has been in and out of the hospital for a while battling an autoimmune disorder. Last year he went through chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. It also came out last year that the team was letting him leave the team to be with his son when he wanted to as well. So not only was he not pitching well, he would leave the games and head to see his young child who was in the hospital. If that doesn't make you feel for them I don't know what to tell you. Here we are crapping on a guy for not being able to get through a lineup a third time, and meanwhile he's worrying about his young son who was going through something no kid ever should.
Mikael was also able to get cleared to come to a game in Boston for his birthday and see his dad get a save is incredible. He's been healthy enough to be at a few games in Baltimore as well and if you're in the family and friends section you can't not see him jumping up and down celebrating his dad striking guys out. So just the fact that he now knows his dad is an All-Star is amazing. I really hope Mikael is healthy enough to travel out to LA and gets to watch his dad pitch in the game, what a turnaround for Lopez on the field and here is to hoping everything off the field is behind this family.
That whole story is why Lopez's manager, Brandon Hyde, got so choked up talking about his All-Star closer. Hyde knows what Lopez has had to deal with, again not just professional struggles, personal stuff off the field with a child. He couldn't even speak, just grabbed his stat sheet and ended the presser because he was in tears. Just goes to show you how tight this group is, Brandon knows how much this means to Jorge and his family. Awesome stuff all around.