Otto Lopez sent to the AAA level: is the Quebecer the victim of an injustice at the Blue Jays?

BETTING À DAY

The discontent is felt among several supporters in Toronto, while Quebecer Otto Lopez found himself among the last players entrenched in the camp of the Blue Jays. We preferred an outfielder named Nathan Lukes to complete the roster of 26 players.

“Otto Lopez sent to the AAA level, I certainly did not expect that”, said expressed a visibly disappointed Jays fan on the social network Twitter. “Ross Atkins hates Otto Lopez. Free him! “, protested another Internet user, challenging the general manager of the team.

There is a step to take before saying that Atkins does not like Lopez, but his recent demotion seems insane.

“Of course he was disappointed, he would have liked to start the season with Toronto, agreed Jethro Supré, Lopez's agent, when reached by phone on Tuesday. He accepted the Blue Jays' decision with regret. He was told of the desire to see him play every day and in different positions. »  

The great injustice in the case of Lopez? Even though the Blue Jays are one of the most followed teams in Quebec, very few baseball fans here seem to care about the fate reserved for the Montrealer. What if his name was Otto Leblanc…

Ready for anything

Aged 24, Lopez should be a source of pride for Quebecers. After having occupied the important role of shortstop player for the Canadian team at the World Classic, the young athlete of Dominican origin, who grew up in the district of Tétreaultville, successfully completed the camp of the Jays, featuring a .348 batting average. If a player can hit, they're usually found a place on defense…

“I can play where the Blue Jays need it, I'm versatile, I train everywhere to be ready, said Lopez himself, interviewed shortly before the last cuts. I also played shortstop during Blue Jays training camp. It's my usual position to be in the infield, but my goal is to help the team, whatever is asked of me. »

“He is now working towards a recall and those who know Otto Lopez know he will be ready,” Supré added, noting that a minor injury presented on the return from the World Classic has not helped his client's cause. . His recall will depend on the needs of the team.

A matter of time

The Blue Jays, who have lost three of their first four games, had choices to make. Are they the good ones? One thing is for sure, Lopez couldn't be closer to a regular job in Major League Baseball. Being on the Jays' 40-man roster, a requirement, he could be called up from the Buffalo Bisons at any time. 

Last year, Lopez made a good impression with six hits in nine appearances at the plate at the end of the season with the Blue Jays. This streak no doubt helped boost his popularity with Toronto fans. They can't wait to applaud him again. It may be at the time of his next recall that Quebecers will in turn develop a sense of pride attached to Lopez.