Baseball Catcher Javy Lopez

BATTING
YR 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996	TM Atl Atl Atl Atl Atl	LG NL NL NL NL NL	POS C C C C C	G 9 8 80 100 138	AB 16 16 277 333 489	R 3 1 27 37 56	H 6 6 68 105 138	2B 2 1 9 11 19	3B 0 1 0 4 1	HR 0 1 13 14 23	RBI 2 2 35 51 69	TB 8 12 116 166 228	BB 0 0 17 14 28	IBB 0 0 0 0 5
Totals				G 335	AB 1131	R 124	H 323	2B 42	3B 6	HR 51	RBI 159	TB 530	BB 59	IBB 5

BATTING								BASERUNNING			PERCENTAGES
YR 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996	TM Atl Atl Atl Atl Atl	LG NL NL NL NL NL	K 1 2 61 57 84	HBP 0 1 5 2 3	SH 0 0 2 0 1	SF 0 0 2 3 5	GDP 0 0 12 13 17	SB 0 0 0 0 1	CS 0 0 2 1 6	SB% -.--- -.--- .000 .000 .143	AVG .375 .375 .245 .315 .282	OBP .375 .412 .299 .344 .322	SLG .500 .750 .419 .498 .466	AB/HR --.- 16.0 21.3 23.8 21.3	AB/K 16.0 8.0 4.5 5.8 5.8
Totals			K 205	HBP 11	SH 3	SF 10	GDP 42	SB 1	CS 9	SB% .100	BAVG .286	OBP .325	SLG .469	AB/HR 22.2	AB/K 5.5

BATTING															PERCENTAGES
YR 1995 1996	TM Atl Atl	LG NL NL	G 3 2	AB 9 7	R 0 1	H 4 2	2B 0 0	3B 0 0	HR 0 1	RBI 3 1	TB 4 5	BB 0 1	K 3 0	SB 0 1	BAVG .444 .286	SLG .444 .714	AB/HR --.- 7.0	AB/K 3.0 --.-
Totals			G 5	AB 16	R 1	H 6	2B 0	3B 0	HR 1	RBI 4	TB 9	BB 1	K 3	SB 1	AVG .375	SLG .563	AB/HR 16.0	AB/K 5.3

BATTING															PERCENTAGES
YR 1992 1995 1996	TM Atl Atl Atl	LG NL NL NL	G 1 3 7	AB 1 14 24	R 0 2 8	H 0 5 13	2B 0 1 5	3B 0 0 0	HR 0 1 2	RBI 0 3 6	TB 0 9 24	BB 0 0 3	K 0 1 1	SB 0 0 1	BAVG .000 .357 .542	SLG .000 .643 1.000	AB/HR --.- 14.0 12.0	AB/K --.- 14.0 24.0
Totals			G 11	AB 39	R 10	H 18	2B 6	3B 0	HR 3	RBI 9	TB 33	BB 3	K 2	SB 1	AVG .462	SLG .846	AB/HR 13.0	AB/K 19.5

BATTING															PERCENTAGES
YR 1995 1996	TM Atl Atl	LG NL NL	G 6 6	AB 17 21	R 1 3	H 3 4	2B 2 0	3B 0 0	HR 1 0	RBI 3 1	TB 8 4	BB 1 3	K 1 4	SB 0 0	BAVG .176 .190	SLG .471 .190	AB/HR 17.0 --.-	AB/K 17.0 5.3
Totals			G 12	AB 38	R 4	H 7	2B 2	3B 0	HR 1	RBI 4	TB 12	BB 4	K 5	SB 0	AVG .184	SLG .316	AB/HR 38.0	AB/K 7.6

TEAM ABBREVIATION KEY
YEARS 1992-1996	TM Atl	LG NL	TEAM NAME Atlanta Braves	LEAGUE NAME National League

Drafted: 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

1997 Season
The Braves got another productive season out of their powerful catcher, Javy Lopez. He got off to a terrific start, but wore down a bit in the second half as he suffered a hairline fracture in his thumb and battled other assorted injuries. Still, he showed improvement in his power and plate discipline.

Hitting
Lopez kills low fastballs, and he's slowly learning to lay off the breaking pitches in the dirt that he's always had the impulse to chase. He comes out hacking and is one of the most dangerous first-pitch hitters in the game. He has begun to pull the ball in recent years, but still hits the ball hard to all fields and has excellent power to right-center. He hits lefthanders and righthanders equally well, though he has more power against southpaws.

Baserunning & Defense
Lopez' defense gets a bad rap, possibly because he's perceived as an offensive player first and foremost. Still he's adept behind the plate, and does a good job of blocking pitches for a pitching staff that probably throws more balls in the dirt than any other team in the majors. His throwing has improved, and he's not afraid to pick off a napping baserunner. A decent athlete for a catcher, he simply can't steal a base, going 2-for-12 in his major league career.

1998 Outlook
If Lopez didn't have to pay the physical toll that's required of a catcher, he likely would be recognized as one of the game's better all-around hitters. His future development will depend on his ability to stay away from the more serious types of bumps and bruises. If he's able to keep his game at its present level, he's undoubtedly one of the best at his position.