Prospect Countdown: #37 Jack Lopez

37. Jack Lopez Shortstop

Paden Bennett (29): Give this kid some time.  One of the younger players in the Midwest League at 19, Jack Lopez still has plenty of time to adjust.  Baseball America liked his approach at the plate and felt also that power would be there at some point.  I still have optimism for this kid, keep in mind he's only 19.

Joe Cox (NR): Lopez was a 16^th round pick in the 2011 draft for the Royals.  The soon to be 20 year old shortstop was not impressive offensively in the 2012 season.  The 5’10 160 pounder managed only a .222 AVG with 0 homeruns in single A last year, and obviously needs more time in the lower minor leagues to see if he can develop any sort of offensive game.  While he is still young, there is very little to be excited about from Lopez until he can show that he can get on base.  

Damion Mandalas (NR): Due to a large stock of young short stop prospects in the low levels, the Royals were forced to hand out some aggressive assignments. Lopez received one of these. Despite being a teenager, Lopez was considered the more advanced than Adalberto Mondesi and Humberto Arteaga. In large part due to his assignment, Lopez did not have an impressive debut.

Lopez is said to have a very strong feel for the game, which shouldn't come as any surprise considering his father is a bullpen coach for the Cincinnati Reds. Lopez was drafted in the 16th round and somewhat surprisingly was bought out from his commitment to the University of Miami with a $750,000 signing bonus. Lopez should receive another assignment to low-A in 2013, this time to Lexington, Kentucky in the South Atlantic League

Dan Ware (NR): In just 274 AB, Jack hasn't done much with the bat to call himself a hitting prospect in professional baseball, although he did hit .462 with 10 HR and 34 RBI his senior season of high school in Deltona, Florida.  From what I've read, he's 'slick' with the glove, which is a nice trait to have at SS.  Lopez is playing in Puerto Rico for the Winter with fellow Royals prospects Christian Colon and Alfredo Escalara-Maldonado.

Total Points: 2