Christian Lopes
| AB | 9 |
|---|---|
| AVG | 0 |
| OBP | .1 |
| SLG | 0 |
| HR | 0 |
- Full name Christian M. Lopes
- Born 10/01/1992 in Huntington Beach, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 211 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Valencia
- Debut 04/20/2022
-
Drafted in the 7th round (229th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011 (signed for $800,000).
View Draft Report
Lopes matured early and has been a nationally prominent player for a long time. As a high school freshman he looked like a future first-round pick, but he never developed premium tools and other Southern California high schoolers have leapfrogged him. Some scouts compare Lopes to former Cal State Fullerton star Christian Colon at the same stage of his development, though others scoff at that comparison, saying he lacks Colon's competitive fire, instincts and defensive ability. Lopes does play hard and is instinctive, but not to an extraordinary degree. He played shortstop in high school and could play there if he winds up in college at Southern California, but scouts project him as a second baseman in pro ball. He has good hands and smooth infield actions, but he tends to sit back on balls and sometimes adds unnecessary flash. He was an average runner when he was younger, but as his 6-foot, 180-pound body has matured his speed has regressed to well below-average. He lacks the range for shortstop but should be all right at second, where his fringe-average arm should play. Lopes' best tool is his righthanded bat. He has an advanced approach for a high schooler and does a good job using the opposite field, though scouts would like him to tinker less with his swing. Assessments of his power potential range from below-average to average. With his lengthy track record and feel for the game, Lopes has a chance to be drafted in the top five rounds, but he might find himself a victim of overexposure and wind up at USC.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
Lopes drew acclaim early in his amateur career, ranking as the top 13-year-old in the nation in 2006 and projecting as a future first-round pick as a high school freshman. But his physical skills didn't develop as expected, and he seemed to wilt under the pressure. He failed to hit .300 as a junior and started tinkering with his swing, eventually falling to the seventh round of the 2011 draft. The Blue Jays still believed in his bat and signed him away from a Southern California scholarship for $800,000. He outperformed his fellow 2011 draftees at Bluefield last summer, earning team MVP honors. Despite his prolonged slumps as an amateur, Lopes has shown an ability to handle the bat. He has a sound approach and a quick swing that he's not afraid to turn loose. As a pro, he's doing a better job of not thinking too much or panicking at the plate. He should have more pop than most middle infielders, with a chance for average power as he matures. Lopes' below-average speed has prompted a move from shortstop to second base, but he has soft hands and a solid arm to go with good instincts, so he should be fine defensively. He could open 2013 in low Class A. -
A mainstay on the showcase circuit, Lopes emerged early as a potential first-round pick for the 2011 draft, ranking as one of the top 12-year-olds in the nation in 2005. But after he failed to hit .300 as a junior, he started tinkering with his swing and didn't live up to expectations as a senior last spring. He fell to the seventh round, where the Blue Jays paid him $800,000. Despite his prolonged slumps in high school, Lopes has shown some hitting ability. He tends to get mechanical with his swing and can get too wrapped up trying to make adjustments. He has a quick bat and good pop for a middle infielder. Lopes has nice actions and quick feet at shortstop, though he tends to sit back on balls too much. He once had plus speed but has slowed to a below-average runner as he matured physically. Diminished range and a fringy arm led many amateur scouts to project that Lopes would have to move to second base in pro ball, but Toronto will give him every chance to play shortstop. After getting his feet wet in instructional league, Lopes figures to begin 2012 in extended spring training and make his pro debut in June.
