Yoan López Leyva (born January 2, 1993) is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Yoan López | |
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![]() López with the Mets in 2022 | |
New York Mets – No. 44 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: (1993-01-02) January 2, 1993 (age 29) Nueva Gerona, Cuba | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 9, 2018, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
MLB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
Win–loss record | 3–8 |
Earned run average | 4.39 |
Strikeouts | 92 |
Teams | |
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López played three seasons for the Isla de la Juventud in the Cuban National Series.[1] He defected from Cuba in 2014 to pursue a career in Major League Baseball (MLB). In his final season in Cuba, he had a 3.12 earned run average (ERA) with 28 strikeouts in 49 innings pitched.[2] He received interest from numerous teams, including the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres[3][4] before signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks.[5] In 2015, he played for both the Arizona League Diamondbacks of the Rookie-level Arizona League and the Mobile BayBears of the Class AA Southern League, pitching to a combined 2-6 record and 4.17 ERA in 54 innings between both teams.
In 2016, López pitched for Mobile. He struggled, posting a 5.52 ERA in 62 innings, and left the team with the intention to retire.[6] However, he returned to the organization in September 2016 to pitch for the Diamondbacks' Arizona League affiliate. He spent 2017 with the Visalia Rawhide of the Class A-Advanced California League and posted a 2-0 record with a 0.88 ERA along with 56 strikeouts in 30+2⁄3 innings.[7] In 2018, he pitched for the Jackson Generals of the Southern League.
The Diamondbacks promoted him to the major leagues on September 3.[8] López faced the Atlanta Braves six days later in his major league debut, giving up 2 home runs and a triple in his first 8 pitches.[9] In 2019, he pitched out of the bullpen for Arizona, appearing in 70 games. In 2020, López pitched to a 5.95 ERA with 16 strikeouts and 9 walks in 19.2 innings of work.[10] After recording a 6.57 ERA in 13 appearances, López was designated for assignment on May 20, 2021.[11]
On May 22, 2021, López was traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Deivi Estrada and was assigned to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers.[12] In 32 appearances for Triple-A Gwinnett, López went 3-2 with a 3.03 ERA and 35 strikeouts. On November 22, López was designated for assignment by the Braves.[13]
On November 29, 2021, Lopez was claimed off of waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies.[14] On March 18, 2022, he was claimed again, this time by the Miami Marlins.[15] On March 27, 2022, Lopez was designated for assignment.[16] On March 29, 2022, López was claimed off of waivers for a third time, by the New York Mets.[17]
New York Mets roster | |
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Active roster |
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Injured list |
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Coaching staff |
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