Dariel Lopez was one of several young prospects the Pirates pushed up to Bradenton in 2021, making them one of the youngest teams in the league. It worked out perfectly, as the Marauders walked away the Low-A Southeast champions.
It was quite a challenge for Lopez, and the rest of the prospects at that level. Without minor league baseball in 2020, this was a first look at professional baseball in the United States for most of them. Lopez was one of the ones that really responded.
“Last year was his first in the United States,” Pittsburgh Pirates farm director John Baker told Pirates Prospects. “He went from the DSL to Bradenton, which is a really big jump for an 18-year-old. He was challenged. We challenged him, but we stuck with it, and gave him consistent playing time, and last year he only got better as the season went on.”
That there lies the key with prospects more times than not. Sticking with them. Making the commitment to give them consistent playing time through struggles in a day and age where most demand immediate results in their day-to-day lives.
The Pirates saw the talent that Lopez possesses, and gave him all the room possible to let him grow and get on the right path.
Lopez spent the majority of the 2021 season batting in the heart of the order of the Single-A division champions as a 19-year-old, quite the impressive feat. His numbers were modest, yet again admirable for his age. The infielder slashed .258/.341/.393 with 10 home runs and 64 RBI in 98 games played in the pitcher friendly league. He flexed some pretty impressive opposite field power, going the other way nearly 40% of the time with Bradenton.
This year he’s starting to pull the ball more, which has led to an offensive outburst and Lopez being among the system leaders in home runs.
Baker recognized Lopez taking a very similar path this year with Greensboro that he took with Bradenton in 2021 — improving as the season unfolded.
“This year, he’s showing us the same things,” said Baker. “He’s only getting better offensively as the season has gone on.”
After a horrendous April that saw him hit .179/.220/.250, Lopez has been either slightly above league average (in terms of wRC+) or well above in each of the following months.
Since April, Lopez has posted a monthly wRC+ of 128, 104, 175, and 157, respectively. He’s also seen a cutdown in his strikeouts too. After striking out 31.7% of the time in April, he’s brought his overall rate down to 25.8% and is punching out just 18.7% of the time in July and August combined.
The Pirates have set up their lower levels to teach the college environment, with Greensboro being the first time a lot of players are truly out on their own. It’s a good test for the player, pushing them not only on the field but forcing them to make the right decisions about their careers off the field as well.
Baker acknowledged Lopez as one of the players thriving in this setting, with it showing with his play on the field.
“He’s really maturing this season,” said Baker. “I think, like Endy, as he’s gotten comfortable away from Pirate City, and living on his own, he’s just gotten better offensively, and it’s been something exciting for us to see.”
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Some players respond better to getting challenged the way that Lopez has been the last two years. The Pirates could have taken it easy with him, kept him in the Florida Complex League last year and had him in Bradenton this season.
Being 20-years-old in Bradenton is nothing out of the ordinary and still puts you on a fairly quick path.
Instead, they challenged Lopez, pushed him with tougher assignments, and are starting to see him reap the benefits.
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