Lopez back with added confidence for Naturals

NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. Wampler Infielder Nicky Lopez will be in the lineup tonight when Northwest Arkansas opens its season against Corpus Christi at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. Lopez hit .259 in 59 games last season with the Naturals.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. Wampler Infielder Nicky Lopez will be in the lineup tonight when Northwest Arkansas opens its season against Corpus Christi at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. Lopez hit .259 in 59 games last season with the Naturals.

SPRINGDALE -- Few, if any, prospects for the Kansas City Royals helped themselves more during the off-season than Nicky Lopez.

Lopez will be back on the infield tonight when Northwest Arkansas opens its season against Corpus Christi at 6:25 p.m. at Arvest Ballpark. He returns with added confidence after an impressive display during the Arizona Fall League, where he batted .383 in 20 games.

At A Glance

Corpus Christi at NWA Naturals

WHERE Arvest Ballpark, Springdale

TIME 6:25 p.m.

ON THE AIR KYNG-AM 1590

Homestand Schedule

FRIDAY vs. Corpus Christi, 7:05 p.m.

SATURDAY vs. Corpus Christi, 6:05 p.m.

SUNDAY vs. San Antonio, 4:05 p.m.

MONDAY vs. San Antonio, 7:05 p.m.

TUESDAY vs. San Antonio, 11:05 a.m.

ONLINE www.nwanaturals.com

Always regarded as a fine defensive player, Lopez's surge at the plate during the Arizona Fall League prompted Baseball America to move him from No. 13 to No. 7 among prospects in the Royals' organization.

"I changed up my stance a bit, swung with a lighter bat, and just went straight to the ball," Lopez said. "That was a big confidence-booster for me in the Fall League because a lot of the top prospects were there. I put up some numbers and it was a 'Hey, I deserve to be here' kind of thing for me. The production came up and I really enjoyed myself while I was there."

Lopez, 23, was drafted by the Royals in the fifth round in 2016 after he completed his junior season at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. He started last season at Advanced-A Wilmington before being promoted to Northwest Arkansas, where he hit .259 in 59 games with the Naturals.

"I was only here for half a season and I still have some more to show," said Lopez, who batted .279 overall in 129 games last year. "It was my first full season and I got a little tired at the end. Going into my second season, I know a little more about what to expect. I'm going to hit the ground running and keep working to reach my ultimate goal, and that's to be in the big leagues."

Lopez got a taste of the big leagues when he was invited to spring training with the Royals.

"Lopez, from all the hype from the Arizona League, I saw him in big league camp and liked what I saw," said Northwest Arkansas Manager Mike Rojas. "I like the talent we have and the product we're going to put on the field. Our job is to develop good players and part of that is winning."

Lopez is happy to begin his second full season in a place with which he is familiar, but said his brief stay with the Royals provides even more incentive to keep rising within the organization's ranks.

"Just being in the clubhouse with the big-league guys was awesome," Lopez said. "They're all very nice and I got to pick their brains about the game. Being on the same field with those guys gave me confidence in knowing I'm just a step or two away from the big leagues."

Lopez, who can play both shortstop and second base, is a good fit for Kansas City and its top minor league teams at Omaha and Northwest Arkansas. He grew up in the Midwest and turned down scholarship offers in other parts of the country to play at Creighton.

"Creighton meant a lot to me when I was in school and it still means a lot to me," Lopez said. "Being at a mid-major school, you're kind of the underdog every day. But we won a lot of games and I learned so much from coach (Ed) Servais and the people at Creighton. They taught me how to play the game the right way and still respect others."

Sports on 04/05/2018

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