Jacob Lopez

Lopez attended Saugus High School and College of the Canyons, both in Santa Clarita, California. He played baseball in both high school and college.^[1][2]

The San Francisco Giants selected Lopez in the 26th round, with the 766th overall selection of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.^[3] He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Giants, recording a 1.42 ERA in 9 games. Lopez began the 2019 season with the Low-A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, starting 9 games and posting a 3.02 ERA with 39 strikeouts across 41+2⁄3 innings pitched.^[4]

On July 31, 2019, the Giants traded Lopez to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Joe McCarthy.^[5] He made 3 starts for the Low-A Hudson Valley Renegades down the stretch, recording a 2–0 record and 2.40 ERA with 18 strikeouts. Lopez did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[6]

Lopez began the 2021 season with the High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods, making 14 appearances (10 starts) and registering a 3–1 record and 2.30 ERA with 88 strikeouts across 54+2⁄3 innings of work.^[7] Lopez suffered an elbow injury in late August that necessitated Tommy John surgery and caused him to miss the entire 2022 season.^[8]

Lopez began the 2023 season with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits, and was promoted to the Triple-A Durham Bulls after 8 games. In 18 starts for Durham, he pitched to a 4–5 record and 2.72 ERA with 87 strikeouts in 79+1⁄3 innings pitched.^[2] On August 14, 2023, Lopez was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.^[9] He made his debut that day in relief against the Giants, in which he recorded a save. In 4 games for Tampa Bay, Lopez logged a 4.38 ERA with 8 strikeouts across 12+1⁄3 innings of work.

Lopez was optioned to Triple-A Durham to begin the 2024 season.^[10] He made 4 appearances for the Rays, posting a 5.23 ERA with 8 strikeouts across 10+1⁄3 innings pitched.

On December 14, 2024, Lopez and pitcher Jeffrey Springs were traded to the Athletics in exchange for Joe Boyle, Will Simpson, Jacob Watters, and a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick in the 2025 MLB draft.^[11] Lopez was optioned to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators to begin the 2025 season.^[12] After three minor league appearances, he debuted with the Athletics on April 18.^[13]

• Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac