Javier Lopez is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on July 11, 1977, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and attended the University of Virginia, where he played college baseball.
Lopez was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth round of the 1998 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Diamondbacks in 2003 and played for them until 2005. During his time with the Diamondbacks, Lopez primarily served as a relief pitcher and had a 4.82 earned run average (ERA) in 70 appearances.
In 2006, Lopez signed with the Boston Red Sox as a free agent. He played for the Red Sox until 2009 and was a key member of their bullpen during their 2007 World Series championship season. Lopez had a 2.43 ERA in 26 appearances during the 2007 postseason, helping the Red Sox win their second championship in four years.
After leaving the Red Sox, Lopez signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010. He played for the Pirates until 2012 and had a 2.64 ERA in 96 appearances. Lopez was then traded to the San Francisco Giants in 2012 and played for them until his retirement in 2016. During his time with the Giants, Lopez was primarily used as a left-handed specialist out of the bullpen and had a 2.26 ERA in 389 appearances.
Overall, Lopez had a successful MLB career, finishing with a 3.48 ERA in 834 appearances. He was known for his ability to get left-handed batters out and was a valuable member of several championship teams. After retiring from baseball, Lopez has worked as a television analyst for the Giants and has also been involved in various charitable organizations.
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