Nicky Lopez Stars in Return to TD Ameritrade Park Omaha

OMAHA, Neb. – Nicky Lopez played in TD Ameritrade Park Omaha for the 76^th time on Thursday, but it was unlike any of his first 75 games.

The Creighton product and fifth-round draft pick in 2016 even used the same clubhouse, though his old lockers were occupied by Nebraska natives and veteran teammates Jake Diekman and Alex Gordon.

What made Thursday's game different was that rather than donning the White and the Blue from his college days at Creighton, he instead was doing it as a member of the Kansas City Royals. Lopez batted sixth and played second base against the Detroit Tigers as part of the first Major League game ever played in the state of Nebraska.

All Lopez did was go 2-for-4, score twice, play flawless defense in three chances, and help his team to a 7-3 victory over the Tigers.

"Just driving from the airport to the stadium and seeing TD Ameritrade Park is pretty special," said Lopez. "To come back here, this is actually our locker room that we stayed in at Creighton too, so it's very humbling and I'm just blessed to be here."

Lopez started his third year in the professional ranks just down the road playing for the Omaha Storm Chasers in Triple-A. It was just one month ago Friday that Lopez was promoted to the Majors, helping him achieve a personal goal he had set in the offseason.

"This was one of the goals that I had, was to make it to the big leagues and then come to play in here. I achieved it, and this is going to be something special and something that I'll remember for the rest of my life."

It took all of two pitches of his first at bat in his return to TD Ameritrade Park Omaha for Lopez to add to the memories, lacing a 1-0 pitch into the right field bullpen to give the Royals a 1-0 lead in the second inning. It was Lopez's first home run in the Majors, and matched his total from the 75 games he played in as a collegian at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. That first homer came on May 17, 2016 against Nebraska in his final college home game, and was similarly lined into the bullpen in right.

Those at the stadium on Thursday night have seen Lopez experience success before, and the rookie was quick to credit where his background.

"It all started at Creighton. I spent three of my most important baseball parts of my career here in Omaha and it's kind of cool because I didn't know much about it when I came here as a freshman. The fan base that they have for the Kansas City Royals is pretty cool, and then getting drafted by the Royals and then making it to Triple-A and coming back to Omaha and now playing here with the big league club is something that's pretty crazy. If you look back at it, I sit there and I'm blessed. It's unbelievable that it's happened and it's a full-circle."

Count longtime broadcaster Steve Physioc among those in the Royals organization high on what lies ahead for Lopez.

"I just think he is a 'Royals' kind of player," said Physioc. "The Royals want to be great defensively. They want to throw strikes and catch the ball. They want to be strong up the middle. If you put (Adalberto) Mondesi and Nicky Lopez at short and second base, that's really, really good. "

Royals skipper Ned Yost, who managed the Royals to the 2015 World Series crown, could hardly contain his excitement when asked about Lopez. It took him less than a minute to mention him as part of a Royals core he hopes to lead to another title.

"We're excited about his ceiling," said Yost. "We're excited about the future with Whit (Merrifield) and with Gordy (Alex Gordon) and (Jorge) Soler and (Adalberto) Mondesi and Nicky Lopez and Brad Keller. We're excited about these kids continuing to develop and grow and eventually help us get us back to a spot where we can win a World Championship.

Lopez knows the success isn't guaranteed and won't always happen like it did on Thursday, but still remains appreciative of the Royals organization for the opportunity.

"They called me up for a reason. I know what I can do and they know what I can do too. It's great to have that kind of support system behind me and that trust in me. Obviously it can go a little bit better on the offensive end, but I'm going to make those strides and do better.

"No one really has a smooth transition to the big leagues. Everyone goes through those ups and downs. I've had better offensive weeks, but I just got to keep working hard and keep working with the coaches. I know what I can do, but this is obviously the biggest jump that anyone's going to have to take and I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Though he quickly became a fan favorite, the consensus around the Royals franchise is that Lopez is far from a finished product.

"He is someone that is going to be a really solid Major League performer, I think," said Yost. "Like most young guys coming to the big leagues, it's a transition to understand what the Major League game is like. You can't duplicate or replicate the Major League game. You just don't get it in Triple-A. You don't get it in Double-A…you've got to get to the big leagues and play.

"I do think in the offseason he needs to get in the weight room and get stronger, because right now big league fastballs are knocking the bat out of his hands a little bit," noted Physioc. "But, he has great hand/eye coordination. He makes good contact and I think as he matures as a Major League hitter and does get stronger, those ground balls will become line drives and our ballpark is a perfect ballpark for a gap hitter like Nicky.

Lopez isn't one to rest on his laurels. The 24-year-old Illinois native knows he has to keep improving to flourish against the world's best players.

"I'm looking forward to getting better each and every day," said Lopez. "Just keep coming to the clubhouse and working hard with these guys and hopefully stringing along some wins and just keep getting better. The future is bright for us so we just have to keep it going."

For Yost, the win was the most important part as his 22-46 Royals won their first series victory since April 12-14, and their first rubber game victory since late May last season. But getting Lopez back on track brought a smile to his face.

"It was good to see him break out a little bit and come in and have some good at bats," said Yost. "It's always cool to see somebody hit their first big league home run. And for him to do it here, I think, was even more special."

Before departing Omaha, both Yost and right fielder Whit Merrifield were quick to compliment the atmosphere of 25,545 that accounted for the Royals largest 'home' crowd since its season-opener in March.

"It was great to see the sellout," said Merrifield. "I thought they did a great job putting this on."

"The energy level was fun," said Yost. "When you have energy levels like this, you sense it. You have to literally stop yourself to listen and look around, but you sense the energy and the electricity in there. Every time I turned around, all I saw was Royals uniforms and Royals hats. It was really neat for us to come and play a good game for our fans here. It was special."

And for Lopez and those at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha on Thursday, it was a night that won't soon be forgotten.

?? to Omaha! Very excited to be able to come back and play at @tdameritradeprk tonight! #AlwaysRoyal #Jayforever
— Nicky Lopez (@nick3lopez) June 13, 2019

"I got chills walking in."@CU_Baseball alum @nick3lopez discusses his big-league return to TD Ameritrade Park.#AlwaysRoyal // #MLBinOmaha pic.twitter.com/RX9mLcpQY4
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 13, 2019

.@nick3lopez said he got chills walking into the ballpark today.
How do you think he felt when he hit his first career homer a few hours later?#AlwaysRoyal // #MLBinOmaha pic.twitter.com/FDf3b3uT2E
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 14, 2019

.@nick3lopez hit his first career homer in his college ballpark.

See for yourself. ??#AlwaysRoyal pic.twitter.com/XTGtkmOP5K
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 14, 2019

Nicky Nebraska. ?? pic.twitter.com/N4Ci5egswv
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 14, 2019

Nicky Lopez Stars in Return to TD Ameritrade Park Omaha

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