Former D-Backs Pitcher Rodrigo Lopez Joins Spanish Broadcast Team

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced that they have hired former D-backs pitcher Rodrigo Lopez as their Spanish radio broadcaster starting in 2014. The D-backs will broadcast all 162 regular season games and two Spring Training games on KSUN Radio Fiesta 1400AM. 

Lopez is the first former D-backs player to join the Spanish radio broadcast team and will serve as the color analyst alongside D-backs play-by-play broadcaster Oscar Soria in the University of Phoenix Spanish Radio booth. Lopez will make his first public appearance with the D-backs tonight at 5 p.m. at the annual D-backs Holiday Party at the MLB All-Star Arizona Diamondbacks Boys & Girls Club located at 548 W. Southern Avenue.   

The Tlalnepantla, Mexico native went 7-16 in 33 games (all starts) for the D-backs in 2010, leading the team in innings pitched (200.0), games started (33) and tied for first in quality starts (15). He played for seven teams (Padres, Orioles, Rockies, Braves, Phillies, D-backs, Cubs) over 11 seasons, compiling an 81-89 record with a 4.82 ERA (724 ER in 1,350.2 IP) and 865 strikeouts. With the Orioles in 2002, Lopez was voted runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year, after going 15-7 with a 3.57 ERA (78 ER in 196.2 IP). His 15 wins are tied for the most ever by a Mexican-born rookie. Lopez is currently pitching in the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico with the Tomateros de Culiacan.

This year marks a return for the D-backs to KSUN Radio Fiesta 1400AM and both Lopez and Soria will travel for all 81 road games for the first time since 2010. Soria is in his 16^th full season as the play-by-play voice on D-backs Spanish-language broadcasts while Lopez will begin his first season in 2014. Richard Saenz is in his 12^th season in the D-backs’ radio booth, working as a fill-in color analyst.