What a story Reynaldo López has turned into. A year ago, nobody was quite sure what the Atlanta Braves were getting when they handed him a three-year, $30 million contract.
Was he a starter? A reliever? Some sort of hybrid arm they could use wherever needed? Even López himself didn’t seem totally sure. But Atlanta made a promise: spring training would give him a fair shot at the rotation.
From Uncertainty to Breakout Season
Fast forward to the end of 2024, and López didn’t just earn a spot—he became one of baseball’s biggest surprises. A 1.99 ERA earned him an All-Star appearance and a top-11 finish in Cy Young voting. Not bad for a guy who hadn’t been a full-time starter in years.
Manager Brian Snitker quickly pointed out how different things were a year ago. Back then, the Braves were still debating how best to use López. Now? There’s no question about it—he’s a starter and one they trust.
Even after dealing with a forearm strain and shoulder inflammation in the second half of the season, he finished strong, including a dominant six-inning, nine-strikeout performance against the Royals in late September.
The Braves Rotation Takes Shape
The Braves’ rotation is shaping up nicely. López is locked in alongside veteran ace Chris Sale, rookie Spencer Schwellenbach, and eventually Spencer Strider once he returns from elbow surgery in late April or early May. That’s a group with serious upside—one that was far from guaranteed just a year ago.
Speaking of Schwellenbach, he and López both made their spring debuts on the same day. The rookie threw two scoreless innings against the Pirates, while López allowed just one hit and one walk in two scoreless innings against the Red Sox.
Snitker liked what he saw, particularly how López managed his velocity, dialing it up to 98 mph when needed. That kind of control is what made him so effective last year.
A More Demanding Workload in 2025
One of the biggest changes for López in 2024 was how the Braves handled his workload. They gave him extra days of rest early in the season, easing him into a starter’s rhythm.
This time around that won’t be as much of a focus. López proved he could handle a starter’s workload, and the team trusts he can build on that foundation.
Let’s discuss expectations. López isn’t just looking to replicate last year—he wants to take another step forward. His goal? 30-35 starts and 200 innings.
That’s a big jump from the 135 2/3 innings he threw last season, but he believes he can do it.
The Role of Confidence and Support
If you ask López, who believed in him first? The answer would be his wife, Jhilaris. She told him he could thrive as a starter.
She convinced him to sign with a team that would give him that opportunity, not just the team offering the biggest contract to be a reliever.
Now, López believes it, too. And if last season was any indication, the Braves might have landed one of the most valuable arms in baseball without even realizing it.
