Scouting Report: Lopez is a smart and instinctive ballplayer who consistently plays above his solid but unspectacular tools. While he needs to keep adding strength to his slight frame, he has good barrel control and understands the strike zone. He works counts and knows how to take his walks. He's an above-average hitter with excellent on-base skills, even if he likely never will hit more than 10 home runs. While his range at either shortstop or second base is no better than average, he gets his body in the right position to make plays, and his average arm is enough because of an excellent internal clock. Lopez is extremely reliable--he made only five errors in 2018 and made zero errors in 32 games at second base. He's a plus runner with good instincts on the bases.
The Future: With Whit Merrifield and Adalberto Mondesi set in the Royals' middle infield, Lopez will get additional seasoning at Triple-A. While not yet on the 40-man roster, he likely will make his big league debut in 2019. He is at least an option as utility infielder, but he has potential to be an everyday second baseman if the opportunity arises.
