While Lucas Giolito and Trea Turner have been the biggest names called up this season by the Washington Nationals, a new top prospect will make his MLB debut for the Nationals this week. Reynaldo Lopez, who entered the 2016 season coming off a down year but regarded as the Nationals' fourth-best prospect, is on his way to Washington D.C. to join the Nationals.
Lopez started off the season in Double-A Harrisburg, where the 22-year-old righty showed electric stuff and made opposing hitters look foolish. Lopez struck out 100 batters over 76 1/3 innings pitched and had a 100/25 K/BB ratio across 14 starts. After a phenomenal month of June, where Lopez had a 44/5 K/BB ratio over 28 2/3 innings with a 1.19 WHIP, the Nationals promoted Lopez to Triple-A Syracuse.
Over the All Star Break, Lopez earned a spot in the MLB Future. Meanwhile, Baseball America released its updated top 100 prospects list at midseason and Lopez jumped all the way up to 48th overall in all of baseball, after he entered the season ranked 92.
Lopez had made just two starts for Triple-A Syracuse, where he struck out nine and walked six with four earned runs allowed in 11 innings, before the Nationals decided to call him up. His fastball-curveball combo should be on display plenty. While it's not known yet what day Lopez will make his MLB debut, his normal schedule would seem to indicate he should start on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This could be a short stay for Lopez, but the young righty has plenty of fantasy upside to offer and if he proves himself even more in the second half of the season, could stake his spot as a top-30 prospect in all of baseball when the season ends.