CHICAGO -- Highly-touted White Sox pitching prospect Reynaldo Lopez hopes for a quick return to the Majors, if he continues to make solid progress in the recovery process from a strained back putting him on the 10-day disabled list on Aug. 19 (retroactive to Aug. 18).
Lopez threw a 50-pitch bullpen session on Friday, and the plans are for another bullpen Tuesday, when the White Sox open a three-game series against the Twins at Target Field. If all goes well in that session, Lopez potentially could face the Rays at home next weekend.
"I'm not sure, but I think it's going to be here," said Lopez, through interpreter Billy Russo, as to whether his next start would be on a Minor League rehab assignment or with the White Sox. "I'm feeling good. I don't have any discomfort, any soreness. Thank god, I'm feeling very good."
"Obviously, we're already coming to the end of August, so it might be almost a moot point," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "For us, just make sure that he's completely healthy and doesn't feel any twinging at all. That he just feels comfortable doing what he's doing and obviously, right now, up to this point he does feel comfortable. We'll just wait and see how this thing plays itself out."
The right-hander arrived on Aug. 11 with the White Sox and made two starts covering 10 1/3 innings. He gave up eight runs, while striking out 12 and walking seven.

But Lopez left in the fifth inning of that Aug. 17 start at Texas due to the soreness. He has played catch at various distances and embarked on the side sessions, using all of his pitches, in a push to get back healthy.
"Yes, I'm satisfied and relieved," said Lopez of his rehab work. "At first I was a little concerned because I didn't know if that was something more complicated. But with all the treatment, I've been feeling good. At this point, I feel very, very good."
"He's doing fine, moving along," Renteria said. "Can't give you a date certain yet as to his return, but he's progressing very well."