Sox infielders DeJong, Lopez glad to be back home
Chicago White Sox’s Nicky Lopez forces out Milwaukee Brewers’ Joey Wiemer but can’t turn a double play on Andruw Monasterio during the second inning of a spring training baseball game, Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) AP
The day before the season opener, first-year White Sox general manager Chris Getz mentioned his desire to improve the team’s defense up the middle.
That’s why the Sox came up with their all-suburban double-play combination. Antioch’s Paul DeJong started at shortstop with Naperville Central’s Nicky Lopez at second base on Thursday against Detroit.
Lopez, the team’s 12th Opening Day second baseman in 12 years, was put to the test right away. The second batter of the game lifted a pop up into short right field, forcing Lopez to make the catch at a full sprint. In the third he saved a bad-hop grounder that nearly went over his head. The defensive play saved a run at the time, though the next batter hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Javy Baez with the game’s only run.
“That’s my bread and butter,” Lopez said after the game. “I hang my hat on that, just being a really good defensive player. Those aren’t normal plays, but sometimes you have to make those plays for your pitcher.”
Both players are MLB veterans who started their careers in stable situations, then had to move around. DeJong spent seven years in St. Louis and was an all-star in 2019. Last summer he was traded to Toronto, spent most of September with San Francisco, then signed with the White Sox as a free agent.
Lopez was in his fifth season with the Kansas City Royals when he was traded to Atlanta at last year’s deadline. In November he was one of five players sent to Chicago in the deal for pitcher Aaron Bummer. Lopez found out he’d been traded to the White Sox the day before his wedding.
The two infielders have been to both sides of Chicago as visiting players and appreciated the chance to finally play for the home team.
“It was great,” DeJong said. “Kind of the first-day jitters and extra energy got spent today, so now it’s back to baseball.”
