GLENDALE, Ariz. — RHP Reynaldo Lopez feels great physically this spring. Looser because of a less weight, more reps weightlifting routine in the offseason.
Mentally, he’s in a good place. And with improved vision after having surgery last May on both corneas, he feels like it’s all coming together for him.
Which is a good thing for the White Sox, who, seemingly set on their current collection of pitchers, need all the starting depth they can get to navigate a season in which everyone fears arm issues due to the late start to spring training caused by the lockout.
Depth will be a premium commodity. Lopez, 28, says he’s equipped to do it with his plus fastball and four-pitch mix, feeling much better these days.
“Much better than the last three years,” Lopez said. “Now I’m loose. I didn’t try to do too much in the weight room, and I didn’t get so tight. My velo is 95, 97.”
Before surgery, Lopez said he struggled at times to see the catcher’s signs, which created an obvious distraction. That’s not a problem any more.
When Lopez was acquired with Lucas Giolito and Dane Dunning for Adam Eaton in 2016, he possessed the best arm of the threesome. In 2018, he was the Sox’ best starter, posting a 3.91 ERA over 32 starts. After regressing to ERAs of 5.38 and 6.49 in 2019 and 2020, with demotions to Triple-A Charlotte, Lopez bounced back to Chicago with a 3.43 ERA, 55 strikeouts and 13 walks over 57 2/3 innings.
The Sox will likely use him as a starter and in the bullpen, much like free-agent signee Vince Velasquez.
“They are very important pieces to the puzzle,” pitching coach Ethan Katz. “Especially when you’re looking at Michael [Kopech] right now, who off the year that he had we really have to be smart with his innings ... we don’t push him too hard to get him ready. He might be a couple of innings behind others.
Lopez, expected to start and pitch two innings against the Giants and Carlos Rodon — who beat him out for the fifth starter’s spot last spring — in a Cactus League game in Glendale today.
Lopez was looking forward to being on the mound in the same game with Rodon. And he says he couldn’t be in a better place right now. He even felt comfortable enough to do an interview in English.
“My eyes, my arm, my mind,” Lopez said. “Everything is coming together.”
Mendick wants to play all nine
Danny Mendick has done some catching on side, ‘just to have that ability’ as an emergency catcher, he said.
Hopes to check off all nine positions in his career, and has two to go — catcher and first base.
“‘Everything I can to be well rounded,’’ he said. “I pride myself in that.”
Mendick pitched in a blowout game at Fenway Park last season, allowing a hit, hitting a batter and striking out Franchy Cordero.
