DURHAM, NC- The contract of Grand Prairie AirHogs RHP Caesar Lopez (pictured) has been sold to the Atlanta Braves. Lopez will be assigned to the Class A Rome Braves of the South Atlantic League.
Lopez has appeared in seven games out of the bullpen with the AirHogs in the 2014 season. In eight and 2/3 innings, Lopez has struck out eight hitters. On two occasions, May 15 and 18, both at the Wichita Wingnuts, Lopez struck out two of the six batters he faced.
The native of La Habana, Cuba, who currently resides in New Port Richey, Florida, is in his first season of Independent baseball. He previously spent three seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. In 2011, Lopez struck out 15 hitters over 22 innings between the Gulf Coast League Pirates and the Short Season Class A State College Spikes. A year later, he struck out 24 hitters over 43 innings, all with the GCL Pirates.
In 2013, Lopez split time between all three Pirates Class A affiliates- the Jamestown Jammers (Short Season-A), West Virginia Power (A) and Bradenton Marauders (Advanced-A). His greatest success came with Jamestown, where he carried a 2.81 ERA over eight games, with 15 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched. With the Power, Lopez struck out 30 in 23 and 1/3 innings, finishing 13 of the 15 games he appeared in and collecting two saves.
