Lopez joining Chicago White Sox's rotation on Friday
Slowly but steadily, the Chicago White Sox's top prospects are making their way to the major leagues.
First up was Yoan Moncada. Baseball's top-rated minor leaguer joined the Sox on July 19.
On Friday, starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez is coming up from Class AAA Charlotte and joining the White Sox's rotation.
To clear a spot, ineffective starter Mike Pelfrey (3-10, 5.31 ERA) is moving to the bullpen.
Acquired from the Washington Nationals in December's Adam Eaton trade, Lopez is 6-7 with a 3.79 ERA in 22 starts for Charlotte.
"The kid has worked extremely hard," general manager Rick Hahn said. "He's had an outstanding season so far in Triple-A. But I think it's important, as with any of these premium type prospects as they come into Chicago, Reynaldo like Yoan before him and others who will follow him, is by no means a finished product.
"There still will be some development that occurs here in Chicago. Although he has answered all the questions we've had for him at the Triple-A level, it's now time to challenge him a little further with big-league hitters on an every fifth-day basis."
In 2016, Lopez combined to throw 153⅓ innings with Class AA Harrisburg, AAA Syracuse and the Nationals.
The 23-year-old righty pitched 121 innings with Charlotte this season, so Lopez should be fresh enough to get an extended look in the White Sox's rotation.
"The plan is for him to take the ball every fifth day," Hahn said. "If we need to adjust because of an innings load at some point, or whatever reason, we will. But as I've said several times, we didn't want to bring anyone here until we felt they were going to get the ball every fifth day and be part of a normal starter's routine."
With nothing to play for this season - unless you count the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft - the Sox could always bring up another pitching prospect like Lucas Giolito and go with a six-man rotation the rest of the way.
"It's conceivable," Hahn said. "We are keeping our options open there. There is nothing magical about making sure it's the fifth day. It's just getting that regular turn in the rotation."
Lopez is tied for second in the International League with 131 strikeouts, thanks to a fastball that regularly reaches 95 mph or higher.
Like Hahn said, Lopez is far from a finished product. The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder lasted just 5 innings in each of his last 3 starts at Charlotte, allowing 8 earned runs on 11 hits and 9 walks.
On the plus side, Lopez had 24 strikeouts in the 15 innings of work.
"Everybody's been looking forward to see some of the guys that have been gliding through the system," said White Sox manager Rick Renteria. "(Lopez's) last four or five outings have been really, really good. I think everybody in the city and obviously the club has been looking forward to starting to transition some of those guys who are ready to check off a few of those boxes and be able perform for us, and we're looking forward to having him here.
"There's a lot of excitement. It's just part of the process, another piece we're going to be able to see."