NICKY LOPEZ NEWS

Records steal Friday Lopez went 1-for-6 with a stolen base and a run scored across both halves of Friday's doubleheader versus the White Sox.

Impact Lopez contributed to Kansas City's 6-2 win in the matinee by getting aboard with a single in the seventh inning, stealing second and coming around to score on a Carlos Santana single. Lopez has shown some modest speed with three stolen bases in 37 games this year. He's slashed .233/.333/.311 with no home runs, seven RBI and 19 runs scored across 124 plate appearances while filling in for Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) at shortstop.

MAY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tigers beat Royals 4-3, KC's skid reaches 11 games

Michael Fulmer shut down Kansas City’s ninth-inning rally for his second save, and the Detroit Tigers’ won 4-3 to extend the Royals’ losing streak to 11 games

MAY 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Scores twice in loss Lopez went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored in Tuesday's 8-7 loss to Detroit.

Impact Lopez walked and scored a Jorge Soler three-run home run in the eighth inning. In the ninth, Lopez hit a single and scored on Soler's three-RBI double. The 26-year-old Lopez hadn't produced multiple hits in a game since April 20. He's slashing .220/.327/.308 with no home runs, two stolen bases, seven RBI and 17 runs scored in 111 plate appearances. With only four hits in his last 35 at-bats, Lopez has gone fairly cold at the plate.

MAY 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Saturday Lopez isn't starting Saturday against the White Sox.

Impact Lopez has gone hitless with a walk and six strikeouts in 14 at-bats across his last four games. Hanser Alberto will start at shortstop and bat seventh.

MAY 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Alec Lewis: Some stats that indicate where the Royals'... - The Athletic Some stats that indicate where the Royals' lineup is right now: Nicky Lopez in the last 10 games: 1-for-29, 8 BB, 9 strikeouts. Jorge Soler...

MAY 8, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Ramirez, Bauers help Indians rally for 7-3 win over Royals

Harold Ramirez hit a go-ahead double in the eighth, pinch-hitter Jake Bauers added a two-run homer later in the inning and the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3

MAY 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

'It was a roller-coaster ride': The Royals' Nicky Lopez turned a demotion into an opportunity to rediscover his swing Nicky Lopez was optioned to the minor leagues about a month ago, but his response to that assignment got his career back on track.

APRIL 27, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Full of surprises: Royals own best AL record, sweep Tigers

Jarrod Dyson doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 to complete a four-game sweep on the road for the first...

APRIL 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not starting Saturday Lopez isn't starting Saturday's game against the Tigers.

Impact Lopez had started each of the last five contests and went 4-for-17 with two doubles, four RBI and three runs during that time. Hanser Alberto will start at shortstop while Hunter Dozier starts at the hot corner Saturday.

APRIL 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Minor sharp as Royals roll to 6-2 win over Mize, Tigers

Mike Minor held Detroit hitless until the fifth inning, and Andrew Benintendi and Ryan O’Hearn homered off Casey Mize to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 6-2 victory over the Tiger...

APRIL 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Royals beat Rays 9-8 on Perez's game-ending single

Salvador Perez hit a game-ending RBI single, and the Kansas City Royals avoided a sweep by topping the Tampa Bay Rays 9-8

APRIL 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Productive day at plate Lopez went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 14-7 loss to the Rays.

Impact Lopez lined a two-RBI single in the third inning and came around to score on a Carlos Santana double. In the sixth, Lopez got aboard with a double and scored on a Whit Merrifield single. Through 52 plate appearances, Lopez is slashing .304/.353/.391 with two stolen bases, five RBI and eight runs scored. He has yet to hit a homer, but he has a triple and two doubles among his 14 hits. The 26-year-old has filled in admirably as the primary shortstop while Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) remains out.

APRIL 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Steals base in win Lopez went 1-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Blue Jays.

Impact In the second inning, Lopez and Whit Merrifled executed a double steal, but neither of them was able to score. The 26-year-old Lopez is slashing .282/.341/.359 with two steals, three RBI, six runs scored and no homers through 45 plate appearances. The infielder doesn't supply much power or speed, and he often hits at the bottom of the Royals' order.

APRIL 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Game 2 Lopez isn't in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.

Impact Lopez went 1-for-2 with a run while starting at shortstop in Saturday's matinee. Hanser Alberto will take over at short during the second game of the twin bill, batting seventh.

APRIL 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Royals earn doubleheader split with Jays on Perez's walk-off

The Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays got wildly different yet equally effective pitching performances in splitting their day-night doubleheader on Saturday

APRIL 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shaky Royals bullpen hangs on for 7-5 win over Blue Jays

Jakob Junis ran his scoreless streak to 14 innings and the Kansas City Royals staked him to a seven-run lead before their bullpen gave most of it back in a 7-5 win over the Toronto...

APRIL 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Notches stolen base Lopez went 0-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the White Sox.

Impact Lopez drew a walk and stole second in the eighth inning. He came around to score on an Andrew Benintendi single to put the Royals ahead 2-1. Lopez has yet to show any power -- all seven of his hits this year are singles -- but he's produced a stolen base, two RBI and three runs scored through seven games. He'll continue to log playing time at shortstop until Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) returns.

APRIL 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Royals rally past White Sox for wild 4-3 win in 10 innings

Michael A

APRIL 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

On base three times Lopez went 2-for-3 with a run scored in Monday's 3-0 win over Cleveland.

Impact Lopez showed some speed to get aboard with an infield single in the second inning. He came around to score on Whit Merrifield's two-run homer. The 26-year-old Lopez has served as Kansas City's primary shortstop with Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) out to begin the season. Lopez is hitting .429 with two runs scored and an RBI in four games, although he'll likely return to a bench role when Mondesi is able to play again.

APRIL 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Taylor again stars at plate, Royals beat Rangers 11-4

Michael A

APRIL 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Will be in Opening Day lineup Manager Mike Matheny said Lopez would start at shortstop in the Royals' season opener Thursday against the Rangers, Josh Vernier of 610 Sports reports.

Impact Texas is bringing a right-hander (Kyle Gibson) to the mound Opening Day, so the lefty-hitting Lopez looks on track to at least occupy the strong side of a platoon at shortstop while Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) is sidelined to begin the season. Per Vernier, Matheny said that he expects Mondesi to miss "a couple of weeks" with the injury, so Lopez could be in store for a near-everyday role until around at least mid-April. With a .228 lifetime average and three home runs and one stolen base across 159 career games, Lopez shouldn't be counted on to deliver much fantasy value even if he receives steady at-bats.

MARCH 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Royals put SS Adalberto Mondesi on IL to begin season

Oft-injured Kansas City Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi will begin the season on the injured list with a right oblique strain

MARCH 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Receives callup The Royals recalled Lopez from their alternate training site Wednesday.

Impact Lopez initially appeared set to miss out on joining the Opening Day roster, but Kansas City chose to bring him back following Adalberto Mondesi's surprising placement on the 10-day injured list due to an oblique strain. The severity of Mondesi's injury isn't yet known, but Lopez could end up filling the strong side of a platoon at shortstop with Hanser Alberto for however long Mondesi is sidelined. While handling a near-everyday role for Kansas City the past two seasons, Lopez provided little fantasy value with a .228 average, three home runs, one stolen base, 59 runs and 43 RBI in 159 games.

MARCH 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A Lopez was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.

Impact Lopez appeared to be the favorite to start at second base to begin camp, but he struggled during spring training and will begin the season at Triple-A Omaha as a result. The 26-year-old hit just .118 with one double, four RBI and 13 strikeouts in 16 Cactus League games. Whit Merrifield could now shift to second base to begin the year with Jarrod Dyson potentially starting in center field.

MARCH 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Starting role not set Lopez could lose playing time at second base due to a poor spring as Whit Merrifield has seen the most time at second base recently, MLB.com reports. Lopez is hitting just .118 (4-...

Impact Lopez hit just .201 with a .552 OPS last season, so he'll need as strong start to the season to remain a starter. It's possible he could move to a platoon or reserve role if the Royals decide to give a prospect like Kyle Isbel playing time in right field or call up top prospect Bobby Witt early in the season.

MARCH 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE