This week, I’m opening up with an exciting arm that I don’t think anyone is talking about…yet. He’s more of a deep league play right now, but someone I’d want to get in on early. The next two individuals are household names, and their recent performances have bolstered my confidence in how I rank them. I probably was too low on them to begin with, but I had my doubts, and they are now starting to slip away. I’d be looking to buy those two in leagues, although it’s harder to do so now with what they have been doing. The three-down section contains all names inside my top 100. Due to their performance, I’ve adjusted their ranking slightly. There isn’t anyone here that I’d be looking to move off of completely.

3 Up, 3 Down - Prospects Live
Prospects LiveTom Gates

🔥 3 Up

Leandro Lopez, RHP TEX (Double-A)

80.2 IP, 1.9 ERA, 31% K, 10% BB

History

Lopez was drafted by the Texas Rangers during the international draft in 2021. He pitched 14 innings in the DSL that year. It was a mixed bag of results, as he struck out 15 batters per 9 innings but also had a 5.02 ERA, thanks to a high number of walks.

Lopez pitched 30 more innings in the DSL the following year. His command improved, and the strikeouts remained high.

In 2023, Lopez was sent to Single-A. In 57 innings, he had 79 strikeouts to 38 walks.

Arm injuries limited Lopez to pitching fewer than 13 innings in 2024, as he was promoted to High-A.

Today

Lopez is healthy and dealing. The Rangers had him start the year in High-A, and after 63 innings, he was recently promoted to Double-A. In High-A, Lopez was striking out 28%, walking 10%, and had a 2.19 ERA.

So far, he has had three starts in Double-A and has been dominant. In those starts, he has struck out 23 in 14 innings while only walking four.

The delivery is smooth and easy. He’s very upright during his release. Lopez will flash a high 90’s fastball, good change-up, and breaking offerings. From the looks I’ve seen, the command of his pitches is very inconsistent. Sometimes when he misses, he misses badly, especially with his fastball.

He tends to be up in the zone with a lot of his offerings. At times effective, but he will give up more balls in the air that way. The change-up and slider look effective when he’s putting them in the bottom half of the zone. All three pitches get swings and misses.

Projection and Rankings Update

The Rangers are one of the organizations that have significantly improved their pitching development lately, so I trust that Lopez can continue to take steps forward. He is an exciting arm, and hopefully, all the arm issues are behind him.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see some games this year in which he can’t find the plate and we see five or so walks in an outing. The consistent command is something that he needs to work on.

I’ve currently slotted Leandro Lopez as my 234th prospect right ahead of Ixan Henderson. I think those are two very different types of pitchers. First off, they use different arms…But seriously. Henderson seems more of a safer, back-end of the rotation type of pitcher who is closer to the Major Leagues. Lopez has some upside, considering he’s still young. He also has a lower floor with questions about how consistent his command will be. The nice thing is, his simple delivery makes it seem like it won’t be an uphill battle.

Lopez would be someone I’d be hitching my wagon to in deeper leagues.

Thomas White, LHP MIA (Double-A)

65.2 IP, 2.47 ERA, 37.5% K, 11.4% BB