White Sox promote Reynaldo Lopez to majors

The White Sox will promote right-hander Reynaldo Lopez to make his first start for the club Friday night, according to a club announcement. Lopez will take Mike Pelfrey’s turn in the rotation.

Lopez, 23, logged 44 innings last season with the Nationals, posting a 4.91 ERA and 8.6 K/9 in 11 appearances (six starts). He was traded to Chicago as part of the return for outfielder Adam Eaton at last December’s winter meetings and posted a 3.79 ERA in 22 starts at Triple-A Charlotte this year.

Lopez is the second key ChiSox prospect to be promoted in the last month, joining Yoan Moncada. Lopez is ranked as the no. 59 prospect in all of baseball but comes in as the 6th-best prospect in a loaded White Sox system, according to the latest MLB Pipeline rankings.

Moncada and Lopez are the first call-ups for a White Sox club that could promote others like Lucas Giolito and Carson Fulmer as the year continues. Chicago sudenly has one of the top farm systems in all of baseball after trades involving Eaton, Chris Sale and Jose Quintana netted the club a group led by Moncada, Lopez, Giolito, Eloy Jimenez, Blake Rutherford and Dylan Cease.