Nicholas Lopez is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Kansas City Royals in the United States.
Lopez grew up in Naperville, Illinois, and attended Naperville Central High School. He batted .398 as a senior in 2013. He went to Creighton University to play college baseball after graduating from high school.
In 55 games as a junior in 2016, he hit .306 with two home runs and 22 RBIs. He was picked in the fifth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft by the Kansas City Royals after the season.
Lopez began his professional career with the Burlington Royals, where he spent the entire 2016 season, batting .281 with six home runs, 29 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases in 62 games.
In 129 games with the Wilmington Blue Rocks and Northwest Arkansas Naturals in 2017, he batted .279 with two home runs, 38 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, and a .704 on-base percentage.
Lopez was sent to the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League after the season. He started the year with the Northwest Arkansas Razorbacks before being promoted to the Omaha Storm Chasers in June.
Lopez hit .308/.382/.417 with nine home runs and 53 RBIs in 130 games between the two teams.
Lopez returned to Omaha to start the new year.
His contract was chosen on May 14, and he was brought up to the big leagues for the first time.
Lopez batted for the 2020 Kansas City Royals and made his debut that night against the Texas Rangers.
In 56 games, he hit 201 with one home run and 13 RBIs.
With a .266 slugging percentage, he was the AL’s worst qualified hitter.
Why Did Nicky Lopez Change His Number?
Nicky Lopez’s number was changed from 1 to 8 in order for Jarrod Dyson to wear the number 1.