Recent White Sox acquisition Nicky Lopez lends some insight into how I treat a visiting player in my job of researching, writing and displaying gameday graphics on the scoreboard at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Lopez made 26 appearances (all starts) at “The Rate” as a member of the Kansas City Royals between 2019 and 2022. He was obtained by the Sox from Atlanta in a six-player swap on Nov. 16.
The jack-of-all-trades’ career has had an ample amount of amateur and professional accomplishments sprinkled with a little local flavor. That mix made him an easy visitor to chronicle on the board.
With that as a backdrop, here are some Lopez nuggets (with some “how-the-sausage-is-made commentary”) that flashed on the board during his visits to Chicago as a Royal:
*Note: “First big league homer was the first big league homer hit in the state of Nebraska (June 13, 2019 at Omaha’s Ameritrade Park)”
*FYI: I love this nugget for its uniqueness. Because of that, I probably posted it at least once a game. You’ll see it a lot at the park in 2024. … The homer came off Detroit’s Matthew Boyd in a game that was hosted at the home of the College World Series on the eve of the annual tournament.
*Note: “Graduate of Naperville Central High School … Earned all-conference and all-academic honors in the Du Page Valley Conference”
*FYI: Jason Benetti and Steve Stone aren’t the only ones who love local ties! I used the Naperville Central graphic quite a bit during Lopez’s time in KC. The wording of the above stat is not exact because I updated it in a “hot” format, which stays at the park as opposed to these gems which are accessible to me from anywhere. … Lopez’s local ties will be something I will highlight in 2024 … BTW, he is the only Naperville Central High School grad to play in the bigs
*Note: “Successful on 22 of his 23 stolen base attempts for the 2021 Royals”
*FYI: This is a basic stat to highlight Lopez’s baserunning prowess
*Note: “Start in the 2nd spot in his big league debut on May 14, 2019 was the first by a Royal since Jeremy Giambi on Sept. 1, 1998”
*Note: “Named Royals’ George Brett Minor League Hitter of the Year in 2018 (.308, 9 HR, 53 RBI at Double-A and Triple-A)”
*Note: “Second to the Sox Yolmer Sanchez (.991) among A.L. second basemen with a .990 fielding percentage for the 2019 Royals”
*FYI: I like linking players in my graphics. I especially like using familiar or legendary names (Brett) and former White Sox players (Sanchez)
*Note: “Hit .306 with two homers in earning second-team All-Big East honors as a junior at Creighton”
*FYI: Granted, this isn’t the most mind-blowing fact but I like to include a stat like this to highlight a school that may not be known for baseball or known at all. I also like highlighting which Sox players attended a college or high school. I have already Tweeted that Lopez will join pitcher Tom Drees as the only Creighton products to play for the Sox. https://x.com/SoxNerd/status/1726035534017905004?s=20
*Note: “First Royal to hit .300 while playing 75 percent of his games at shortstop (2021)”
*FYI: “Firsts” usually make for good reading. I like this nugget. Look for it in 2024.
*Note: “Topped American League shortstops with a .987 fielding percentage for the 2021 Royals”
*Note: “Topped big league position players with 12 sacrifice bunts for the 2021 Royals”
*Note: “Finalist for the A.L. Rawlings Gold Glove Award at second base for the Royals in 2020”
*Note: “Assembled a 40-game errorless streak for the Royals from Aug. 1 to Sept. 18, 2020”
*Note: “Set Royals record with 72 consecutive errorless games at shortstop from May 5 to Aug. 13, 2021”
*Note: “12-game hitting streak in 2019 was the longest by a Royals’ rookie middle infielder In 11 seasons”
*FYI: Firsts and streaks are staple stats of mine on the scoreboard for all players
*Note: “Hit for the cycle for Double-A Northwest Arkansas on June 21, 2018 (5-for-6, 4 runs)”
*Note: “Named to the Arizona Fall League’s All-Prospect team for the Surprise Saguaros in 2017”
*Note: “Carolina League (A) All-Star at Wilmington in 2017 (.295, 2 hr, 27 rbi)”
*Note: “Led the Appalachian (Rookie) League with 56 runs in his first year of pro ball in 2016”
*FYI: I will use quite a few minor league bits early in a player’s career. Once a player has been in the league a few years I will ease up on the bush league notes. Regardless of where a player in his career I will continue to post minor league stats about monster games, such as the cycle above, or player-of-the-year honors.