It’s just weird. A lot of these guys I’ve been with (for) three and a half years. They’re pretty good friends. You know, just a lot of competing with each other, rooming with each other, locker room time — you name it, we’ve probably all done together. – Rafael Lopez, on playing his old team
SALT LAKE CITY — Rafael Lopez cracks a big grin as the first of the Iowa Cubs players pops out of the opposing dugout.
Immediately a flood of previous laughs, inside jokes and all the memories of his last four years come back to Lopez as he awaits his turn in the cage during the Bees’ batting practice on a warm, hazy Wednesday afternoon.
Finally, as the practice session ends and the sun slowly fades behind on the backstop seats, Lopez gets his opportunity, greeting each of the Iowa players with a flurry of hugs and handshakes. They’re the enemy on this night, but Lopez is sharing stories like family. They were teammates not too long ago, until Lopez was designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs on June 27.
The designation didn’t shock Lopez, who said he had been warned by the club prior that he’d likely be dealt. “I was just waiting to see where I’d pack my bags to,” Lopez said.
He took batting practice with the team during his limbo period, but was forced to jet out before games as he waited for a trade or to clear waivers to be outrighted to Iowa, where he already was. Then, on July 3, he was pulled aside in the clubhouse and told he had been traded to the Los Angeles Angels, where he’d report directly to Triple-A Salt Lake.
That wasn’t a difficult transition.
However, in many ways, the impact of the trade didn’t hit for the first time until the Iowa Cubs came to town.
“It’s just weird,” Lopez says, seeing the iconic Cubs royal blue on the opposing side for the first time. “A lot of these guys I’ve been with (for) three and a half years. They’re pretty good friends.
“You know, just a lot of competing with each other, rooming with each other, locker room time — you name it, we’ve probably all done together.”
Not just friends, but guests at his upcoming wedding in November. In fact, Lopez tabbed Iowa outfielder John Andreoli to be one of his groomsmen on the big day, another infielder, John Mota, was recently sent down to Double-A. Could a good series against the Bees knock Andreoli, Lopez’s former roommate, off the groomsmen list?
Probably not. “Maybe a drink is on the line,” Lopez says with a laugh.
On the other end, Andreoli and the Cubs squad were happy to see a familiar face on the other side upon traveling to Utah for the only time this season.
"It's a little weird, but once the game starts and crosses the lines, it doesn't matter who's out there, you compete for your team and try to win," Andreoli said.
"(Rafael) is a good player, I wish him all the best," the Cubs outfielder said, breaking out with a smile before amending his comment, "after this series."
Lopez said he planned on catching up with his teammates during any off time in the series. Of course, he doesn't want that to encourage his friends to run the base pads on him while he catches.
“Hopefully a couple of my buddies won’t steal too much," Lopez chuckles. There are plenty of laughs to be had with bragging rights on the line.
But all joking aside, Andreoli said he's happy to see the opportunities Lopez has had since the trade in a different organization. He's also honored to be a groomsman in Lopez's wedding.
"We lived together on the road, lived together in spring training, been close in the offseasons," Andreoli said. "We grew close over the years. His fiancee is a wonderful girl and I'm really excited. It's going to be a really special day and I'm glad I get to be a part of it."