Cleveland Baseball Insider

Cleveland Baseball Insider's 2024 Season Top 50 Prospects: No. 45 Catcher Robert Lopez

The strong-armed Lopez collected 20 extra base hits and drove in 41 runs in just 67 games for Lynchburg in 2023

Todd Paquette

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As we prepare for a new year and spring training to begin, there’s no better time to bring you an up-to-date look at Cleveland Baseball Insiders' top 50 prospects.

Rankings are based off seeing the players live, watching video and having conversations with evaluators within and outside of the organization, as well as other writers. While prospect lists are fun and entertaining for fans, they are not an end-all-be-all in terms of who make it eventually to the major leagues. Remember, Jose Ramirez was never a top-100 prospect nationally and players like Steven Kwan and Will Brennan weren't considered top-20 prospects in the Guardians organization by many outside publications.

The ultimate goal here is to inform our readers and give you information on some of the young talent in the organization that they can follow and look forward to seeing in the future at the MLB level.

Robert Lopez - Catcher

Age - 19

BATS - L

DOB - 1/02/2004

THROWS - R

HT - 5'10"

SIGNED - 1/15/2001

WT - 150

ETA - 2026

The now 19-year-old catcher Lopez received the third highest bonus in the Guardians 2020 international class, signing for $1MM out of Caracas, Venezuela. Only switch-hitting infielders Angel Genao and Fran Alduey received a larger signing bonus. 

He made his pro-debut playing in 32 games during the 2021 season playing in the Dominican Summer League. In 2022 he appeared in just 25 games in the Arizona Complex League.

Those first two seasons he struggled at the plate hitting just .180 with a 73 wRC+ over his 57 games played and 224 plate appearances. Despite his offensive struggles his defense didn't suffer as he threw out 30% of baserunners trying to steal combined over the two seasons.

Scouting Grades

Hit - 35

Arm - 55

Power - 45

Field - 50

Run - 35

Overall - 40

Lopez is currently a defense first catching prospect blessed with above average arm strength. Even before he was signed by the Guardians Lopez earned the nickname in Venezuela the "Captain" because of his ability to lead and help control the game on the field.

At the plate Lopez is still a work in progress but still has plenty of time for this part of his game to develop. He has a sweet compact stroke from the left side that has the potential to produce and add more pop moving forward as he matures and continues to add strength. He has a good eye with the ability to draw a walk. 

Lopez is a below average runner but does show some nice athleticism for the catcher position.

2023 Stats

G

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

SB

AVG

OBP

SLG

ISO

OPS

wRC+

67

243

27

59

13

 1

 6

 41

27

61

 1

.243

.319

.379

.136

.697

  99

Lopez started the 2023 season in Goodyear, Arizona held back by the organization for extended spring training. That all changed when Low-A Lynchburg's starting catcher Manuel Mejias went down with a fractured left hand in early May.

Lopez got the promotion on May 10th and stepped right in as the starting catcher for Lynchburg. He remained the starter until mid-August when Mejias returned from his injury. The two then split time over the last month of the season.

Over his 67 games with Lynchburg the 19-year-old Lopez had some peaks and valleys on offense but overall showed much improvement at the plate from his first two seasons. Lopez finished hitting .243 with a .319 OBP and a 99 wRC+ over 273 plate appearances with Lynchburg. He finished with 20 extra base hits and 41 RBI's drawing 27 walks.

During the season he had a 22 game on-base streak in which he hit .275 with an impressive .385 OBP thanks to 15 walks. During the streak he hit four doubles and three home runs while driving in 20 runs hitting in the heart of the Hillcats order. Lopez also had an 11-game hitting streak in which he hit .381 with a .447 OBP along with three long balls and nine RBI's.

While Lopez made some major strides offensively his defense stayed strong throwing out 25% of baserunners while providing terrific defense leading the Hillcats behind the plate.

2024 and Future Outlook

The Guardians could start Lopez at High-A Lake County in 2024 but he will just be 20 years old with only 67 games at the Low-A level. The other reason he might begin the season back at Lynchburg is that the Guardians drafted two collegiate catchers in 2023 in 4th Round Pick Cooper Ingle and 11th Round Pick Johnny Tincher. Both Ingle and Tincher could start the season with Lake County holding Lopez back.

Lopez should see the High-A level at some point next year especially if he can show even more development on the offensive end. He will also be battling fellow Venezuelan catching prospect Manuel Mejias for time.

If Lopez continues to develop at the plate as he moves through the farm system, he could develop into a starting caliber catcher. His defense is far ahead of his offense at this point. He shows great leadership and the potential to be a great asset to control a pitching staff. 

If his offensive continues to evolve and continues to show more power his ceiling is quite high. His floor currently is that of a backup catcher at the MLB level with strong defense and some pop from the left side at the plate.

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Todd Paquette
TODD PAQUETTE

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