Lopez happy to be back home with the White Sox, the team he cheered for
As a kid, Nicky Lopez clearly remembers attending Game 2 of the 2005 World Series in Chicago when Scott Podsednik hit a dramatic walk-off home run to lift the White Sox to a dramatic 7-6 victory.
Paul Konerko's grand slam two innings earlier landed just in front of Lopez in the bullpen.
"I remember all of it," said Lopez, who was acquired by the White Sox last week from Atlanta as part of a 5-for-1 deal. "And it's kind of full circle, which is pretty cool."
Eighteen years later, the White Sox appear nowhere close to winning a World Series. The South Siders went 61-101 in 2023 and dealt with numerous off-field distractions during a tumultuous summer.
Lopez, however, believes the Sox have plenty of talent. The key, he says, is building a strong cultural foundation.
"If you change it that way, your playing style might change a little bit as well (as well as) the way you go about your business," said Lopez, who played at Naperville Central High School. "We still have Eloy (Jimenez) and (Luis) Robert and all those guys.
"You still have a great nucleus. I'm just happy to come in this clubhouse and build around them."
The slick-fielding Lopez is a career .249 hitter across five seasons. He has a .312 on-base percentage but has just 6 home runs in 1,706 at-bats. While he figures to see a lot of time at shortstop, Lopez takes great pride in being able to play third base, second base and even some outfield.
Lopez got his first playoff experience this season after he was traded to the Braves. It ended quickly, with Atlanta getting eliminated by Philadelphia in the NLDS, but Lopez now has a taste in his mouth that he wants to repeat year after year.
"I texted (GM Chris) Getz and told him this division is wide open," Lopez said. "The past four years this White Sox team that I've played against is a gritty team ... which is a good thing. ...
"That's one of those things we have to get back to. For four years I was getting my butt kicked by the White Sox.
"So it's nice joining this squad. ... There's no reason why we can't compete for the AL Central."
He's not the only local product added to the Sox roster. Paul DeJong, a veteran middle infielder from Antioch, signed with the Sox on Tuesday, according to an AP report.
Right-handed pitcher Riley Gowens, from Libertyville, also came in the trade from Atlanta. He played in rookie ball and Class A for the Braves organization last season. Gowens, 24, played college baseball at Illinois.