MIAMI -- Pablo López is soft spoken, friendly and one of the promising young pitchers in the Marlins’ rotation.

The 23-year-old from Venezuela usually lets his performance on the mound do the talking. But on Monday morning, López made his voice heard to students at Kensington Park Elementary School, located a few blocks away from Marlins Park.

López is pitching in to help “strike out bullying.”

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and López, joined by a City of Miami police officer, addressed the children at Kensington Park Elementary.

“Every time that we get the chance to talk to kids and explain to them that we have been in their situations, we have been part of this process,” López said. “We had someone there to explain to us, to guide us and let us know that we’re not alone, and there was a solution to this problem.”

Throughout the day, members of the Miami Marlins Foundation, in partnership with the City of Miami Police Department, visited three Slugger Schoolhouse sites and delivered anti-bullying messages.

“It’s very important to let them know that they don’t have to feel they are by themselves,” López said. “Some of them, they keep things inside. They don’t want to tell their teachers, they don’t want to tell their parents, they don’t want to tell their friends. When you keep that inside for so long, it can only get worse and worse, and it will be very bad for you.”

López had an injury-plagued 2019 season, missing more than two months due to a right shoulder strain. The right-hander went 5-8 with a 5.09 ERA in 21 starts and 111 1/3 innings.

López opened the season as Miami’s No. 3 starter, and when healthy, has shown plenty of promise.

“It’s all about this offseason, getting better and getting stronger,” López said. “I’m looking forward to the next season to show up and just try to have that winning mentality. It’s about doing it. It’s about execution.”

On Monday morning, López was making his presence felt by offering words of support to young students. He took part in an interactive conversation with the children, concluding with the students saying aloud the “No Place For Hate” Pledge and then signing it.

“I had the opportunity to come here with the Marlins,” López said. “I thought it was a great idea. I really enjoyed the experience, talking to the kids and letting them know that we’ve all been there. We want the best for them.”