NEW YORK -- Domination is the best way to describe right-hander Reynaldo Lopez's performance this season. Check out these numbers: In 16 starts, Lopez, the Nationals' No. 5 prospect, has a combined 109 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings with a 3.19 ERA for Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse.
Lopez flashed some of that talent during the World Team's 11-3 win over the U.S. in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on Sunday in San Diego. He retired all three batters he faced and hit 100 mph on the radar gun.
Lopez could be on the fast track to the big leagues. While the Nats see him as a starter long term, he could be a perfect fit in the bullpen later this season.
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"I think the important thing is first to make it to the big leagues and trying to establish yourself," Lopez said through an interpreter Sunday. "Whether that be as a starter or as a reliever, that's up to them to determine, but it's important to just get there and do well for yourself."
"He has done everything we have asked him to do developmentally," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. "He has come a long way over the past year. We recently promoted him to Triple-A, and he has performed well there. We see him as a guy with power stuff that could help us sooner rather than later."
According to assistant general manager Doug Harris, Lopez is successful on the mound because he puts himself in a position to repeat his delivery, which has allowed him to stay in the strike zone more consistently. He is throwing his breaking ball for strikes and he has done a better job throwing his changeup. Lopez has a fastball that is clocked in the upper 90s.
"It's a credit to our international scouting department," Rizzo said. "Our player-development guys have done a great job with him. It's a great organizational success story. He's just scratching the surface. We are looking forward to seeing him impact us here in the big leagues."