Javy López | |||
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Catcher | |||
Born: Ponce, Puerto Rico |
November 5, 1970 |||
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MLB debut | |||
September 18, 1992, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
September 2, 2006, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Batting average | .287 | ||
Home runs | 260 | ||
Runs batted in | 864 | ||
Teams | |||
Career highlights and awards | |||
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Javier Torres "Javy" Lopez (born November 5, 1970) is a Puerto Rican former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Atlanta Braves (1992–2003), Baltimore Orioles (2004–2006) and Boston Red Sox (2006). He batted and threw right-handed. He was named Ponce, Puerto Rico's Athlete of the Year from 1984 to 1987.
López (birth name: Javier López Torres ) was signed by the Atlanta Braves in 1987 as an amateur free agent, López made his debut on September 18, 1992 against the Houston Astros. After sharing duties with Charlie O'Brien and Eddie Pérez for four seasons, he established himself as the Braves regular catcher in 1996. The same season, he led the Braves to win the National League Championship Series, earning the series Most Valuable Player honors. He also made the National League All-Star team from 1997–98. Lopez had his best season in 2003 with a .328 batting average, 43 home runs and 109 RBI in 129 games, including a .378 on-base percentage and a .687 slugging percentage. In that season he broke Todd Hundley's record for most home runs hit in a season by a catcher (41) and was selected to the All-Star Game, winning the Silver Slugger Award and finishing fifth in the National League MVP ballot.