Chicago White Sox 2021 Season Preview: Reynaldo Lopez
Things didn’t go very well for Reynaldo Lopez of the Chicago White Sox during spring training. He went in trying to beat out Carlos Rodon for the role of the fifth starter but he didn’t even come close. At this point, the team might consider one of Garrett Crochet or Michael Kopech to the rotation permanently before having Lopez start a game. This is a season where there are high expectations so there won’t be any messing around.
Reynaldo Lopez’s 2021 season with the Chicago White Sox is in doubt.
Now, there is also a chance that Lopez gets another chance if the depth is tested. He was sent down to the alternate training site but that doesn’t mean that his time in a Chicago White Sox uniform is over. You can bet that you will see him throw a pitch at Guaranteed Rate Field (or in a road game) before the season ends.
He is going down to the training site in Schaumburg this year and is going to get plenty of innings. Tony La Russa believes that he needs more innings and they aren’t available at the MLB level right now. That tells you two things. The first is that Tony hasn’t given up on him. The second is that there is more proof that it is about winning right now at the MLB level. They are developing outside of the MLB team because they think they can win.
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2021 Expectations:
Don’t expect to see Reynaldo Lopez for a bit. If there is an injury then you might but they are going to continue trying to help him along in the development program. It is a shame to see him where he is after he was one of the brightest pitching prospects they had at one point. He is an easy guy to root for because of his situation.
There is still hope that with Tony La Russa’s guidance combined with Ethan Katz’s knowledge, they are able to figure this out for him. If he reached his potential, they would have an even deeper young group of pitchers. You just can’t expect to see much in 2021.