{"id":312652,"date":"2026-05-28T17:29:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T17:29:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/312652\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T17:29:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T17:29:20","slug":"the-reason-nicky-lopez-is-glad-he-signed-with-texas-rangers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/312652\/","title":{"rendered":"The Reason Nicky Lopez is Glad He Signed with Texas Rangers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nicky Lopez<\/a> joined the Texas Rangers on an auspicious evening. <\/p>\n

The Rangers designated former National League MVP Andrew McCutchen<\/a> for assignment before Wednesday\u2019s game against the Houston Astors. The Rangers then signed Lopez and added him to the roster, taking McCutchen\u2019s spot. Texas then installed Lopez at second base, replacing Justin Focsue.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a quick turnaround for a utility man who was DFA\u2019ed by the Chicago Cubs last weekend and then declared free agency. But there was a silver lining. Jacob deGrom was on the mound for the Rangers<\/a>. That was fine by Lopez. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad I\u2019m sharing the diamond with Jacob deGrom now,\u201d he said to MLB.com\u2019s Kennedi Landry<\/a> on Wednesday. \u201cI don\u2019t ever wanna see him again.\u201d <\/p>\n

Lopez has faced deGrom three times but doesn\u2019t have a hit. Lopez went 0-for-3 on Wednesday, as he slid over to shortstop midway through the game when Ezequiel Duran left with an illness. <\/p>\n

Nicky Lopez\u2019s Rangers Future\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas Rangers shortstop Nicky Lopez (33) and Rangers second baseman Justin Foscue. | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Before he joined Texas, he played four games with the Chicago Cubs and didn\u2019t have a hit in five at-bats. But since his MLB debut in 2019 with Kansas City, he\u2019s played in 694 games and has a slash of .245\/.309\/.310. He doesn\u2019t come with much slug \u2014 he\u2019s only hit seven career home runs. But he has speed to steal bases and get into scoring position, as he has four seasons with 10 or more doubles. <\/p>\n

He can play every infield position, with most of it at second base and shortstop. He joins the team with both Josh Smith and Corey Seager on the injured list and needing at least a couple of more weeks to be ready to return. Adding Lopez gives Foscue \u2014 who has more power than Lopez \u2014 gives the infielder a break. <\/p>\n

But Lopez also gives the Rangers something that could differentiate him from Foscue \u2014\u00a0defense. He has an overall .989 fielding percentage, including a .990 fielding percentage at second base. While playing shortstop for the Royals in 2021, he led the American League in fielding percentage at the position at .987. <\/p>\n

Foscue\u2019s fielding percentage at second base is .967 and he made a key error in the ninth inning while turning a double play in Anaheim on Sunday that led to a loss to the Los Angeles Angels. It wasn\u2019t his first defensive miscue, either. <\/p>\n

Lopez gives the Rangers a better defender at a position where they have limited depth. He brings a bat that can make contact but won\u2019t slug much. He can play multiple positions, which can come in handy when Seager and Smith return. This also gives him time to build a case for a roster spot. <\/p>\n

As a bonus, he doesn\u2019t have face deGrom anymore. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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