"I feel like I'm born again," Lopez said. "It is the opportunity of a lifetime for me to turn around and perhaps revive my career. I was living in a big cloud the last three years."
During Wednesday morning's throw-and-critique session, Lopez made approximately 30 throws to the second-base bag. Palacios remembers just two of those throws being pushed to the shortstop side of the bag.
"He's so excited and he looks great," Palacios said. "It's like a whole new beginning for him."
Lopez isn't fazed by the fact that his base salary, if he makes the 25-man roster, would only be $750,000. Nor is he still bothered by the nightmare of events that he's lived the past few years.
Instead, he's simply focused on the opportunity to be back home, where his kids would have the opportunity to see him play on a regular basis, and where he's always felt most comfortable.
Once considered one of the top professional sports stars in Atlanta, Lopez returns with something to prove and the ready willingness to play second fiddle to All-Star catcher Brian McCann.
"I can't wait for Spring Training," Lopez said. "I've been working so hard. I don't see why I can't make this happen."
The Official Site of The Atlanta Braves: News: Atlanta Braves News
12-22-2007, 03:09 PM
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