Athlete of the Week: Isaac Lopez

Isaac Lopez, an international trade redshirt senior from Edinburg, is a shortstop for the UTRGV Baseball Team. In the 2024 season, Lopez had 28 runs batted in and 30 runs. 

Q: What’s a fun fact about yourself?

A: “I like playing pickleball and golf, and I have two border collies.”

Q: Who or what got you started in baseball?

A: “I think it was just me playing with my pops. I started playing golf and baseball at the same time and just played those since I was young. But I just really fell in love with baseball because of the team aspect and being around the guys. It was just so much fun; the camaraderie and playing team sports in general just hooked me.”

Q: Who is your biggest inspiration or role model? 

A: “I would have to say my family. They’ve been my biggest supporters and they come watch me play and sit on the same side of the baseball park when we play. I’m just doing it for them ’cause they’ve done so much for me and I just can’t thank them enough.” 

Q: Who is your favorite baseball player? 

A: “I would have to say Chase Utley.”

Q: What kind of music do you like to listen to?

A: “It’s very broad. I have a big range of music that I like to listen to, from reggaetón and cumbia to a little bit of hip-hop. And I really like house music as well. I like a little bit of everything”

Q: What shows or movies do you like to watch?

A: “I just finished watching ‘The Recruit’ on Netflix and  ‘The Night Agent’ on Netflix as well. Some of my favorite shows, I would have to say ‘Peaky Blinders’, easily, I also really like ‘Silicon Valley.’ I’m a big show connoisseur.” 

Q: Do you have any hobbies?

A: “I like pickleball, golf and throwing frisbee with my two dogs.”

Q: What’s your biggest motivation?

A: “When I was younger, I used to come to the [UTRGV Baseball Stadium] to watch the Roadrunners play, and I remember standing up here. I’m trying to be that person that I was watching when I was younger when it came to the ballpark. I wanted to play on this field when I was 6 years old and I just wanted to do it for myself because I know a lot of kids come and watch us. So, that makes me happy: to see that I’m on the other side of the ball this time.”

Q: What do you like most about UTRGV?

A: “I would have to say the staff, the coaches, the whole community that we have, from the city. Like, everybody comes and supports us. Chase [Haselhorst, assistant strength & conditioning coach], calls it like a village, and I can really say that this is really a village, especially for the baseball team. They really come around for us through thick and thin.” 

Q: What are your biggest goals?

A: “In baseball, I want to be an inspiration to the little kids, to the person that I was up there watching the games with when I was younger. For life, I just want to grow up to be better than how my parents treated me, ’cause they were the best role models and the best people. I can’t thank them enough.”