Left-hander Lopez was a promising prospect for the top rookie pitcher in MLB in the season, but his season ended prematurely due to an injury sustained in his final game on August 24. Lopez had been 7-2 with a 2.17 ERA and 85 strikeouts over 70 2/3 innings, marking the third-lowest ERA in MLB over that period. Despite this setback, Lopez remained in Mesa for most of the winter working out at the A's Minor League complex under the supervision of strength and conditioning coach Josh Cuffe and the A’s training staff. Despite a delayed start to game action as he completed his rehab, Lopez performed well in a Cactus League start against the Royals on Saturday, showing signs of improvement. The expectation is that Lopez will be part of the full starting rotation for the upcoming season, giving him a chance to address what felt like unfinished business at the end of last year.