Cautious move would be to start Reynaldo Lopez at Single-A Potomac again this season

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

February 13, 2016, 3:15pm

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Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez was slowed by a back injury during the 2015 season. The No. 1 priority for his development to begin next season is to make sure that he is 100 percent healthy.

The Nationals really like what they saw from Lopez, 22, when he was healthy. "He has a special, special arm," said Nationals pitching coordinator Paul Menhart.

Because Lopez is still a young prospect, there is no reason to rush him. Similar to the organization's philosophy with pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery, the Nationals want to be cautious with Lopez and build body strength and endurance early this season, confirming first that his back is fine before moving him up too fast.

Baseball America also likes what it has seen from Lopez, especially when he burst on the scene in 2014 while playing in the South Atlantic League.

In 2015, Lopez was limited to 99 innings at high Single-A Potomac because of injury. It is important for the Nationals to be careful with Lopez because they have something here. He has top-of-the-line velocity and the potential to have stuff that will be hard to score against.

So to make sure that Lopez is good to go in 2015, the Nationals want him to be healthy and build innings again at Potomac first. It is very likely he could start at Potomac instead of initiating him into the higher Double-A level in April.