Reynaldo López Bio
Reynaldo Starling López Kely, born January 4, 1994, is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has also suited up for the Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Cleveland Guardians since first reaching the majors. A right-handed starter and reliever, López earned his first All-Star selection in 2024. He signed a three-year contract with Atlanta ahead of that breakthrough campaign.
Early Life and Background
Reynaldo López was born in the Dominican Republic on January 4, 1994. He came up in a country where baseball is woven into daily life, and the sport shaped his childhood just as it did for many of his peers. After finishing his high school studies, he took several years away from organized baseball before pursuing a professional path, a step that shaped how teams evaluated his signing.
In June 2012, López signed with the Washington Nationals as an international free agent. His signing bonus of $17,000 was modest compared with other top Latin American prospects, in part because of the time he had spent off the diamond to complete his education. The lower financial profile did not stop him from developing quickly once he entered the Nationals’ system.
Path to Baseball
López made his professional debut in 2012 with the Dominican Summer League Nationals, where he posted a 1–1 record and a 3.38 earned run average (ERA) in just over ten innings. He split the 2013 and 2014 seasons between the Auburn Doubledays and Hagerstown Suns, and by 2014 he had become a reliable starter with a 7–3 record and a sparkling 1.08 ERA. In 2015, he advanced to the Potomac Nationals, where a 6–7 record and 4.09 ERA in 19 starts confirmed his readiness for higher levels.
The 2016 season marked López’s arrival as a top pitching prospect. He opened the year with the Harrisburg Senators, and after a 3.18 ERA in 14 starts he was promoted to the Syracuse Chiefs on June 27, 2016. He was also chosen for the 2016 All-Star Futures Game, retiring all three batters he faced for Team World. That summer, the Nationals decided he was ready for the major leagues.
Reynaldo López Career
Early Career (2016)
López reached the majors on July 19, 2016, starting against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park. He gave up a leadoff home run to Chase Utley and three early runs, but settled in and at one point retired eight straight batters while striking out six of them. Across 4⅔ innings he allowed six runs on ten hits, walked one, and fanned nine in a losing effort. His nine strikeouts ranked as the second-highest total by a Nationals pitcher in a major league debut, trailing only Stephen Strasburg’s 14 in 2010.
He also became the first player signed and developed by the Nationals from the Dominican Republic to start a game for Washington, a milestone the organization treated as a major step forward. The Nationals sent him back to Syracuse the next day to make room for Koda Glover, then shuttled him between the minors and majors for the rest of 2016. He finished the year with a 5–3 record and a 4.91 ERA in eleven appearances for Washington.
Chicago White Sox Era (2017–2023)
On December 7, 2016, López was traded, along with Lucas Giolito and Dane Dunning, to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Adam Eaton. He began 2017 with the Charlotte Knights before his August 11 call-up, finishing that year with a 3–3 record and a 4.72 ERA in eight starts for Chicago. In 2018, he held a spot in the rotation all year, going 7–10 in 32 starts.
The 2019 season brought a 10–15 record and a 5.38 ERA, but he also gave up the longest home run in the major leagues that year, a 505-foot blast. He posted the lowest ground ball percentage in MLB among pitchers at 35.0%. López transitioned to the bullpen in 2022 and thrived, going 6–4 with a 2.76 ERA and 63 strikeouts across 65⅓ innings while his fastball averaged 97 mph and touched 100 mph.
Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Guardians (2023)
On July 26, 2023, López was dealt to the Los Angeles Angels in a package that also included Lucas Giolito, with minor leaguers Ky Bush and Edgar Quero heading to Chicago. In 13 relief appearances for the Angels he posted a sharp 2.77 ERA, but he was placed on waivers on August 29. Two days later, the Cleveland Guardians claimed him off waivers, and he closed 2023 with 12 scoreless outings, striking out 12 batters in 11 innings.
Atlanta Braves Era (2024–Present)
On November 20, 2023, López signed a three-year, $26 million contract with the Atlanta Braves. He won the fifth rotation spot out of spring training in 2024 and earned his first All-Star nod as a reserve, joining teammates Marcell Ozuna, Chris Sale, and Max Fried. In 26 appearances and 25 starts, he went 8–5 with a 1.99 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 135⅔ innings, a career-defining season.
In November 2024, López and the Braves restructured his deal to pay $8 million in 2025 and $14 million in 2026, while guaranteeing an $8 million team option for 2028. On April 1, 2025, he landed on the 15-day injured list with a shoulder issue that was later moved to the 60-day list. On April 8, 2025, the Braves announced he would miss at least twelve weeks after arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder.
Driving Style and Strengths
Standing 6 feet tall, López is not unusually tall for a pitcher, but he generates elite velocity, sitting above 95 mph and occasionally touching 100 mph with his fastball. He complements the heater with a biting curveball and a changeup, and the combination has allowed him to start and relieve effectively. In 2016, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo called him a pitcher who could help in both a starting and a bullpen role.
Notable Events and Milestones
López’s MLB debut in 2016 produced a franchise second-best nine strikeouts and made him the first Dominican signed and developed by Washington to start a game for the club. He surrendered the longest home run of the 2019 season, a 505-foot shot, and pitched five perfect innings in relief against the Chicago Cubs in 2021. His 1.99 ERA in 2024 helped him earn his first All-Star selection, and on April 7, 2026, he was involved in a benches-clearing incident with Jorge Soler that led to a seven-game suspension.
Reynaldo López Career Wins
Across his MLB career, López has built a résumé as both a starter and a reliever, peaking with an 8–5 record and 1.99 ERA for the Braves in 2024. His most consistent work has come out of the bullpen, where a 97 mph fastball and a sharp curveball play well in shorter stints.
MLB Highlights
López went 3–3 in eight starts as a rookie with the White Sox in 2017 and then held a rotation spot with Chicago from 2018 through 2020. In 2022, his 6–4 record and 2.76 ERA showed his value in relief, and in 2024 he set a new standard with Atlanta, helping the club reach the postseason picture while earning All-Star honors. Through June 21, 2026, his career MLB line stood at 50–55 with a 3.92 ERA and 805 strikeouts.
Other Wins & Performances
Before the majors, López dominated at Hagerstown in 2014 with a 7–3 record and 1.08 ERA, and he impressed again in 2016 with Harrisburg and Syracuse. He also posted 12 scoreless appearances for the Guardians late in 2023, an audition that helped him land his Braves deal.
Reynaldo López Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
López grew up in the Dominican Republic in a baseball-rich culture, though public details about his parents and early family life are limited. His path through the Washington Nationals system as a Dominican-born pitcher added to a long line of Caribbean arms who have shaped MLB rotations.
Personal Life
López is married to Jhilaris Bautista, and the couple welcomed a daughter in 2018. After every completed inning, he points toward the sky, a habit that reflects his Christian faith. He has kept his personal life largely private, focusing public attention on his work on the mound.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was interrupted almost immediately for López, who opened the year on the injured list. On April 1, 2025, he was placed on the 15-day injured list with a shoulder injury, and two days later the Braves transferred him to the 60-day list. On April 8, 2025, the team announced he would miss at least twelve weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, a major setback that kept him out for most of the campaign.
Under his restructured deal, López was slated to earn $8 million in 2025 while he worked his way back from surgery. The Braves leaned on their rotation depth, including the returning Max Fried and Chris Sale, to cover his innings during the long absence. His 2024 All-Star season gave the club a clear template for what a healthy López could add once he returned.
Looking ahead, López’s recovery timeline and shoulder health will shape the rest of his 2025 outlook. Atlanta holds him under contract through 2026 with an option for 2028, so the organization has a long-term stake in his full return. If he can recapture the 1.99 ERA form he showed in 2024, he is expected to step back into a meaningful role in the Braves’ pitching plans.