SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — English, explained the Dominican-Canadian newcomer to the San Francisco Giants’ clubhouse, is not Otto Lopez’s first language. It’s not his second language. No, born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Montreal since he was 9 years old, the 25-year-old is more familiar with Spanish and French.
That makes Lopez a versatile orator, but his flexibility might carry even more value in the field.
Acquired for cash earlier this month after he was waived by the Blue Jays, Lopez’s athleticism and ability to shift between second base, shortstop and center field could give him the upper hand in the competition for the final spot on the Giants’ bench this spring.
“Wherever they put me, I’ll be ready for it,” Lopez said in English on his first day in his new clubhouse.
Lopez’s primary competition figures to be Casey Schmitt, who’s also moving around the diamond again this spring. Although Lopez, a former top prospect of Toronto’s, has been optioned in three different years, he has a fourth option year, so he and Schmitt will be on a level playing field in terms of roster flexibility.
Barring injuries or more moves, it could come down to who’s better suited to help the big-league club in a backup role and who would benefit most from more seasoning at Triple-A Sacramento. Across seven minor-league seasons, Lopez has batted .297/.361/.403 with only 22 home runs but 100 stolen bases.
“I love my speed. … I’m starting this year to get more into stealing bags,” said Lopez, who has logged only 11 major-league plate appearances. “As a hitter, last year I got more explosive with my swing and I feel way (more) comfortable with my swing right now.”
Both players should be battling to back up top prospect Marco Luciano, who will have every opportunity to win the starting shortstop job. For Lopez, Luciano is more than a fellow countryman and potential infield partner. The two were teammates last winter for Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Winter League.
“He’s a great teammate,” Lopez said. “We’ve shared a lot of stuff together. … I love the idea (of sharing an infield). I love Luciano. He’s a great dude. When I played with him in the DR, he was a great person and I loved that part of him.”
While this will be only the second organization Lopez has known since the Blue Jays signed him at 17 years old as an amateur free agent — and thus his first time in Arizona for spring training — he is no stranger to new surroundings.
As a 9-year-old from the Dominican Republic, Lopez had to familiarize himself with hockey, maple syrup and francophiles when his dad, Otto Sr., got a job in Montreal and moved the family from their native island. There, he learned to speak French, met the Montreal Canadians, and was eventually introduced through his father to Vladimir Guerrero, whose son ended up being teammates with Lopez in Toronto.
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“It became a part of me, Canada” Lopez said. “It meant a lot (playing for the Blue Jays).”
Estrada has ‘All-Star ability’
A day ahead of the mandatory report date for position players, Lopez and nearly everyone else had already begun the check-in process in Scottsdale.
That includes second baseman Thairo Estrada, who strolled in Saturday morning wearing a white sweatsuit. After facing him the past two seasons as manager of the Padres, Bob Melvin came away with quite the impression of the 28-year-old Venezuelan.
“I think he’s got All-Star ability,” Melvin said. “For him, shrinking the zone a little bit. He’s one of those rare guys kind of like (Jose) Altuve that can just decide he’s going to swing and then find the ball and hit it. That’s rare. If he can really shrink the zone and swing at pitches he can do damage with, the sky’s the limit for him.”
