López chosen as Orioles' representative at All-Star Game

If Jorge López was moved to tears in May by the chance to celebrate his son Mikael’s ninth birthday during the Orioles’ road trip in Boston, sharing the joy and two cakes with teammates, imagine the powerful emotions just waiting to bubble to the surface in Los Angeles.

López was chosen today as the Orioles’ representative at the All-Star Game on July 19 at Dodger Stadium, and it’s going to be another family affair.

The closer earned his first honor at age 29 by posting a 1.74 ERA and 0.968 WHIP in 41 1/3 innings and notching 16 saves in his first season in the role. A starter turned reliever turned ninth inning specialist whose career is soaring in the other direction since the Royals designated him for assignment and the Orioles made the waiver claim in August 2020.

“It’s so special,” López said. “As a ballplayer, there’s expectations every day. Just win. And to add this to my career and my family is huge.”

López is the first Orioles reliever chosen since Zack Britton and Brad Brach in 2016, also the last time that the team had multiple selections.

Second baseman Jonathan Schoop represented the Orioles in 2017, shortstop Manny Machado in 2018 shortly before his trade to the Dodgers, left-hander John Means in 2019 and center fielder Cedric Mullins last summer.

The Orioles had multiple players between 2012-16. Catcher Matt Wieters was the lone representative in 2011.

This year’s club was hoping to get more than one selection, as manager Brandon Hyde mentioned this morning, with other candidates including Trey Mancini, Austin Hays, Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins and Félix Bautista.

López has worked hard to find a secure home in the majors since the Brewers drafted him in the second round in 2011 out of the Caguas Military Academy in Puerto Rico. He was traded to the Royals in 2018 in the Mike Moustakas deal and registered a 6.42 ERA in 47 games before hitting the waiver wire.

Nothing to suggest he’d become an All-Star.

“It’s always something going around, talking and everything, but it’s something you don’t think about,” he said. “I get here every day to do my job every day, and take the opportunity to get to the mound and get the win to the guys. It means a lot, and it’s an honor, for sure, to be part of this organization and represent not only this organization, but Puerto Rico and my family, where they’ve been giving me a lot.”

The Orioles gave López 25 starts last season, watched him register a 6.35 ERA and 1.677 WHIP in 113 1/3 innings, and moved him to the bullpen, where he began to impress before spraining his right ankle in September. He allowed two runs and struck out 10 batters in 8 1/3 innings.

He seemed more relaxed and less vulnerable when not going through a lineup for a third time.

“I have to be thankful to Brandon and Mike (Elias) for giving me that job and trusting me,” López said. “That’s something, I think, at this level you don’t see a lot, when a guy who has struggled a lot, and give him the opportunity, it is huge.”

So is the respect that he’s gained among his teammates. The affection that he feels on a daily basis.

“He means a lot,” said reliever Bryan Baker. “It’s just nice to have a steady presence at the back end of the bullpen who has the caliber of stuff that he has. He’s somebody that all the guys in the bullpen can kind of look up to and see how he goes about his business the right way.”

Six of López’s saves have been multiple innings.

“If he’s not on our team, I don’t know where we’re at,” Mountcastle said. “He’s been unbelievable all year, and for him to get the All-Star nod, I’m so happy for the guy. He’s been through a lot, and just for him to be in this situation, I’m super happy for him.”

López always found his most stress worrying about Mikael, who’s been in and out of hospitals while battling an autoimmune disorder. He underwent chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant in 2021, and López left the team to be with his son.

Mikael got to see his father earn a save in Boston, with López saying his heart was racing because he didn’t want to mess up.

“It’s something we are all aware of and we see that he’s having to deal with that, and also come out here and still taking care of his business and contributing to the team to get wins,” Baker said.

“It just makes it all the more special to see the success he’s having. It’s really awesome to see, just the quality of person he is and how much he’s gone through, and still being able to go out there and put up zeros.”

“I’ve been thinking a lot,” López said. “Not just me, it’s my son, who’s going to deserve. He’s the one who’s been motivating me, he’s the one I get here every day to do my job and even my dream.”

Hyde had the pleasure of gathering the team and passing the news to López, an emotional moment for both men.

“I got so nervous,” López said. “I mean, I didn’t expect it, for real. I feel like a little child about it, because I’m not used to (it), but it’s just something, just been grateful for the things the team’s been doing for me and my family. I appreciate this moment.

“It got me pumped and everybody got really pumped about it. Those things, you don’t see it, but it’s a dream come true, for sure.”

Hyde’s eyes began to moisten when asked about López.

“To see how far he’s come in a year and him take advantage of the opportunity …,” Hyde said.

“I looked at reliever stats a few days ago, and for guys pitching in his situation, to close games, he’s got by far the most innings, which for me means, it’s not that I’m doing two-inning saves with him, it’s that I’m putting him in tough situation in the eighth inning to help us out and then go out and pitch the ninth. So, I know he’s had a couple rocky outings, but he has been one of the huge reasons why we’ve won so many games.

“I’m just so happy for him.”

Hyde, a father of three, tried to respond to a question about the difficult circumstances that López has dealt with at home and in hospitals, how it’s impacted the entire team, brought some perspective to it. How there are so many bigger things to live for. Hyde began to formulate his response and choked up.

After drawing a deep breath, Hyde said, “He’s had to deal with a lot, and not only baseball-wise, but personally and his family situation and his son. We got to see that first-hand in Boston for his son’s birthday. Just …”

That was it. Hyde stood up as tears filled his eyes, picked up his stat sheet, apologized and walked out of the room.

If there were any lingering doubts about the closeness of this team, they also went out the door.

A three-game slump, with back-to-back blown saves in Minnesota and three home runs allowed overall, didn’t ruin López’s chances of making the All-Star team. He’s bounced back by converting his last three save opportunities.

“The truth is, he’s really important,” Bautista said via interpreter Brandon Quinones. “Regardless of what’s happened lately, he’s shown that he’s a proven closer and he’s our closer.”

“The best way to put it is, Lopey’s one of those guys that you get excited for, because of all the adversity that he’s had, especially with his kid,” said Tyler Wells, who went from closer to starter this season.

“After seeing him in Boston, being able to help celebrate his child’s birthday, and being able to see his kid around here, and everything that goes with that kind of stuff, and being able to see how he is as a dad, as he is as a player and a person, he means the world to us.

“Every day that I get to come in and I get to see him and see a smile on his face and get to give him a hug, it’s a good day. It makes everybody’s day better. And especially seeing him in the closer role and seeing him flourish there, he’s been nothing but outstanding all year. It’s awesome to see, and honestly, it couldn’t have happened to a better person.”