Javy Lopez

Baseball Digest All-Star Rookie Catcher 1994
All-Star Selection 1998
Full Name: Javier Torres Lopez
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 185 lbs.
Born: Nov 05, 1970 in Ponce, P.R.
Major League Debut: Sep 18, 1992
PHOTO
GALLERY


CAREER BATTING STATISTICS
 BATTING
YEAR TEAM AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K OBP SLG
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
 Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
 .375
.375
.245
.315
.282
.295
.284
.317
.287
.267
 9
8
80
100
138
123
133
65
134
128
 16
16
277
333
489
414
489
246
481
438
 3
1
27
37
56
52
73
34
60
45
 6
6
68
105
138
122
139
78
138
117
 2
1
9
11
19
28
21
18
21
16
 0
1
0
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
 0
1
13
14
23
23
34
11
24
17
 2
2
35
51
69
68
106
45
89
66
 0
0
17
14
28
40
30
20
35
28
 1
2
61
57
84
82
85
41
80
82
 .375
.412
.299
.344
.322
.361
.328
.375
.337
.322
 .500
.750
.419
.498
.466
.534
.540
.533
.484
.425
Totals AVG
.287		 G
918		 AB
3199		 R
388		 H
917		 2B
146		 3B
11		 HR
160		 RBI
533		 BB
212		 K
575		 OBP
.335		 SLG
.489

 BATTINGBASERUNNINGMISC
YEAR TEAM HBP GDP TB IBB SH SF SB CS SB% AB/HR AB/K
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
 Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
 0
1
5
2
3
5
6
3
4
10
 0
0
12
13
17
9
22
6
20
12
 8
12
116
166
228
221
264
131
233
186
 0
0
0
0
5
10
1
2
3
3
 0
0
2
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
 0
0
2
3
5
4
8
0
5
5
 0
0
0
0
1
1
5
0
0
1
 0
0
2
1
6
1
3
3
0
0
 -.---
-.---
.000
.000
.143
.500
.625
.000
-.---
1.000
 --.-
16.0
21.3
23.8
21.3
18.0
14.4
22.4
20.0
25.8
 16.0
8.0
4.5
5.8
5.8
5.0
5.8
6.0
6.0
5.3
Totals HBP
39		 GDP
111		 TB
1565		 IBB
24		 SH
6		 SF
32		 SB
8		 CS
16		 SB%
.333		 AB/HR
20.0		 AB/K
5.6


CAREER FIELDING STATISTICS
YEAR TEAM POS G Ch PO A E DP FPCT
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
 Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
Atl
 C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
 9
7
75
93
135
117
128
60
132
127
 30
40
597
683
1079
854
1051
446
885
886
 28
37
559
625
992
792
978
413
817
826
 2
2
35
50
81
56
68
29
62
50
 0
1
3
8
6
6
5
4
6
10
 0
0
3
5
9
7
6
3
5
7
 1.000
0.975
0.995
0.988
0.994
0.993
0.995
0.991
0.993
0.989
Totals G
883		 Ch
6551		 PO
6067		 A
435		 E
49		 DP
45		 FPCT
0.993


Not drafted by an MLB team.
Acquired: Signed by the Atlanta Braves as a free agent to a minor-league contract on Nov. 6, 1987.
Personal Information: Married, wife's name is Analy ... Attended Academia Cristo Rey in Urb La Ramble (P.R.) where he played baseball, track and volleyball ... Named Ponce's Athlete-of-the-Year from 1984-87.

Scouting Report

1998 Season
For the first time in his five full major league seasons, Javy Lopez didn't falter down the stretch. A torrid spell in late August and early September allowed him to reach career highs in runs, hits, home runs and RBI. He also continued to mature behind the plate.


Hitting
Lopez feasts on low fastballs from the middle of the plate on in, and he isn't shy about jumping on the first pitch. He flirted with the .300 mark because he has learned to lay off breaking balls in the dirt. And while he always has hit the ball to all fields, he has started to hit with power to the opposite field late in the count. Lopez' numbers show an incredible balance against lefthanders and righthanders, as well as at home and on the road. His batting average, however, was nearly 40 points better last year when he hit sixth instead of fifth.


Baserunning & Defense
The fact that Eddie Perez serves as Greg Maddux' personal catcher has given Lopez a bad rap for his defensive work. The truth is, Lopez paced all major league receivers in fielding percentage and gunned down 34 percent of basestealers, fourth among NL catchers with 100 or more games. His arm is above average, and he has improved his footwork considerably. He calls a much better game now than he did earlier in his career and is adept at blocking balls in the dirt, a prerequisite for working with Atlanta's starters. His baserunning is only slightly better than average.


1999 Outlook
While Charles Johnson and Mike Piazza may receive more accolades, Lopez is arguably the top receiver in the NL. At 28, he's just now entering the prime of his career. His maturity and development in all phases of his game have been impressive.


Scouting Report Source: STATS, Inc. Copyright 1998 STATS, Inc.

Career Notes

1995
Became the first Braves catcher to hit .300+ since Joe Torre hit .315 in 1966 ... Is just the second Brave catcher since 1972 to have consecutive 10+ home run seasons ... Had three game-winning last at-bat hits (April 29 at LA, July 22 vs. SD, Aug. 10 vs. Cincinnati) ... Picked off four baserunners.

1994
First season as Braves starting catcher ... Had an eight-game hitting streak from April 10-20 ... Hit two homers in a game twice, April 14 vs. the Giants and May 15 vs. the Mets ... Was the first Braves catcher since Greg Olson in 1990 to have a multi-homer game ... Became only the third player to reach the upper deck of Miami's Joe Robbie Stadium with a blast April 26 ... Capped a seven-run ninth inning rally with a single that knotted the score at eight vs. the Giants on May 10 ... Braves won the game in the 15th inning 9-8 ... Became only the second Braves catcher since 1976 to hit ten homers in one season ... Caught Kent Mercker's no-hitter April 8 vs. the Dodgers in just his 10th major league start ... Became youngest catcher since Ted Simmons in 1971 to catch a no-hitter ... Threw out 16 of 81 attempted base stealers.

1993
Named the No. 5 prospect in the International League by Baseball America ... Set club record at Class AAA Richmond, Va., for batting average by a catcher (.305) ... IL all-star starting catcher ... Called up to Atlanta Aug. 17 to replace injured Greg Olson ... Batted .375 for Braves (6-for-16) ... Hit first major-league home run Aug. 21 off Chicago's Shawn Boskie.

1992
Hit .375 (6-for-16) in nine games with Atlanta after an outstanding season at AA Greenville, S.C. ... Placed on postseason roster because of Olson's season-ending injury ... Batted 0-for-1 in the National League Championship Series.

1987
Signed by the Atlanta Braves as a free agent to a minor-league contract on Nov. 6, 1987.