Javier Alfonso López was born on July 11, 1977, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1998 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft. Although he became a successful MLB pitcher, López originally aspired to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the FBI. A left-handed specialist known for his distinctive sidearm (submarine) delivery, López established a reputation as a professional relief pitcher. He began his Major League career with the Arizona Diamondbacks and went on to pitch for four MLB teams.
López spent his early years in Fairfax, Virginia, where he attended Robinson Secondary School. Holding American nationality, he initially did not envision a future in professional baseball. Influenced by his father’s career as an FBI agent, he hoped to pursue the same path. However, his athletic talent eventually took precedence when he joined the University of Virginia (UVA).
At UVA, López had a notable college baseball career with the Virginia Cavaliers. He compiled a win-loss record of 12–9 with a 6.30 earned run average (ERA). Despite the ERA, his talent caught the attention of professional scouts, leading to his MLB selection. He became the 26th player from UVA to be drafted into MLB. López spent three years at UVA, studying psychology. Though he left early to begin his professional career, he honored a promise to his father-in-law by completing his degree later on.
Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks, López began his minor league journey with the South Bend Silver Hawks. He advanced to the High Desert Mavericks in the A-Advanced California League and later joined the Lancaster JetHawks in 2001. Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the Rule 5 Draft, he was subsequently traded to the Colorado Rockies on March 18, 2003.
López spent the 2005 season with the Diamondbacks before signing with the Chicago White Sox in 2006. That same year, he returned to the Boston Red Sox, where he played until 2009. In 2010, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and later that year, he joined the San Francisco Giants—a team with which he would find the most success.
From 2010 to 2015, López became a key bullpen contributor for the Giants, particularly excelling in lefty-vs-lefty matchups due to his sidearm delivery. His career highlights include helping the Giants win three World Series championships (2010, 2012, and 2014) and featuring in multiple postseason appearances, including notable performances in the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Atlanta Braves. In 2013, López re-signed with the Giants on a three-year, $13 million contract. He retired from professional baseball at the end of the 2016 season.
| Net Worth 2021: | 7 million |
