As spring training progresses, Reynaldo López is showing encouraging signs of improvement, with a modest increase in velocity beginning to quiet doubting fans. Braves beat writer Mark Bowman confirmed this afternoon that López touched 94 mph during the second inning of Thursday’s live batting practice, marking a slight uptick from his velocity in his first live BP earlier this month.
With question marks surrounding the rotation, López will be a key figure to monitor this spring as he seeks to establish himself and set the tone for the season. Concerns among the fanbase arose when López’s velocity initially fell short of expectations, but, as was the case last spring, patience remains essential when evaluating how he may perform once the games start to count.
Reynaldo Lopez consistently sat around 93 mph and hit 94 mph during the second inning of today’s live BP. He seems to be where he needs to be in February. He’s proven he can be effective at 94-95 with the ability to dial up 98 when necessary
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) February 19, 2026
Reynaldo Lopez following the same blueprint as last spring, as velocity begins to climb and ease Braves fans worries
López’s velocity was a major talking point last spring, as inconsistent results raised concerns among the fanbase about his potential contributions. However, as spring progressed, his velocity steadily climbed, and by his season debut, his fastball averaged 95.5 mph. Unfortunately, health issues limited López, and he made just a single start during the 2025 season.
Understandably, expectations for 2026 have been cautiously optimistic, with hopes that López can regain the form that earned him All-Star honors in 2024. Early concerns following his first live batting practice may have been justified, but those worries have eased after his work on Thursday. With veteran pitchers, it is never prudent to place too much emphasis on February velocity, as most are well aware of the routines necessary to endure the rigors of a full 162-game season.
Unfortunate injuries to Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep have only intensified the pressure on López to deliver in 2026. Current FanGraphs Steamer projections forecast López pitching 152 innings with a 4.06 ERA, 3.91 FIP, and 1.9 fWAR. While Braves fans would likely welcome that output, these numbers may now represent a baseline necessity for a successful season in Atlanta.
As spring training continues, all eyes will remain on López. With questions surrounding the rotation and added pressure from injuries, his performance in the early months of 2026 could set the tone for the Braves’ season. If López can maintain his velocity, command, and health, he has the opportunity not only to quiet lingering doubts but also to become a stabilizing force in a rotation that will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.