The debate about the future of Royals pitcher Jorge Lopez is not necessarily whether he will survive on a major-league staff but rather where he will reside within one. Recently, Baseball America dubbed him the best reliever in the Pacific Coast League, following a survey of Class AAA managers.
But when Lopez arrived in Kansas City via trade with Milwaukee involving Mike Moustakas, the standings dictated the blueprint for 2018. Offered an opportunity to look toward the future, the Royals placed him in their rotation, his original projected lodging when he was drafted in 2011.
His outing Sunday favored that of a reliever.