Going from a relief pitcher to making his 16th start of the season, Reynaldo Lopez hurled the Braves to a 6-0 victory over the Phillies on Sunday. Afterward, he learned he had been named to the All-Star Game, his first such honor.
Here is what he said after the game
Q. What does this mean to you to make an all-star team in your first year as a starter?
A. Yeah I’m very proud. You know I give God thanks just for the way things have gone this season and for getting me to this point. And, you know it’s kind of crazy when you stop and think about, you know, just the last three years pitching out of the bullpen. And to come here and become a starter again and make the All-Star team and even more so taking the time to think about it just all those years I had as a starter, and this being my first opportunity and first invitation I’ve gotten to attend the All-Star game. It’s just crazy, I’m really happy.
Q. Can you tell us what the moment was like today just in terms of how it transpired after an outing like this?
A. “Yeah, Snit [Braves manager Brian Snitker] had a meeting after the game and he told all of us that, you know, he decided to move the meeting from making the announcement pregame to making it post-game because he didn’t want me being all doped up before the start. So you know, and then he said it again once he addressed this, he didn’t want me to lose focus and I appreciate that and really kind of just overwhelmed with emotions really. Just to have that kind of an outing against a really good team and then you hear the news you’ve been invited to the All-Star game. It was just kind of so many emotions and overwhelmed and I feel really happy.
Q. Was there a moment though during the season as you’re leading the league in ERA that you let yourself think ‘I could go there [to the All-Star game]?
A. Yeah you know I had the support of some friends and some of the guys just saying ‘you’re definitely going to the All-Star game this year and if you’re not we’re protesting.’ But, my goal was always to have a good outing and do whatever I could to help the team win and that was always my primary focus as well. I wasn’t thinking too far ahead and so that is where all my attention was going, to do anything to help the team win. But yeah, I’m happy.
Q. How nice is it to be going with a rotation made to Chris Sale but also your buddy Marcell Ozuna, going back years with him right?
A. Yeah, it’s kinda crazy when you stop and think about it. I noticed during the 2016 in the Futures game back then he [designated hitter Marcell Ozuna] used to call me ‘little rookie.’ And to just skip forward to now and to think, man we’re on the same team and we’re going to the All-Star game together. I mean, I just am super excited and then to be able to also go with Chris [Pitcher Chris Sale] who’s just a tremendous teammate and tremendous person, I just think it’s going to be a lot of fun for us.
