He was the mastermind behind the Cougars de Montigny’s championship victory, earning both MVP and Best Pitcher honors. Baseball TV France sat down with him.
Spanish interview at the end
BTVF: Who are you, Yorfrank Lopez?
I’m a right-handed pitcher, I’m 33 years old, and I was signed by the Detroit Tigers in the MiLB.
BTVF: You’ve been playing in France for several years. Tell us about your journey?
Since 2018, I’ve been here in France playing for the Montigny Cougars. My career has been fantastic—I’ve played in Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, Germany, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Poland, the USA, and Venezuela.
BTVF: The challenge just ended in Montigny’s favor. How do you feel?
From the start, no one believed in us, but after our match against Toulouse, the team’s atmosphere completely changed, and that motivated us to keep winning.
BTVF: During the final, you must have told your coach you wanted to keep pitching. How did you convince him?
With the score tied at 4, the manager told me I’d already thrown over 150 pitches, and I told him that if I threw more than 200, I’d either lose or win the game. Thank God, the team rallied in the 13th inning to score, and I felt stronger, getting the final three outs to clinch the championship.
BTVF: Robinson Maestre set the stage, was there a rivalry between you two? How will you manage your arm for the rest of the season?
Robinson was an excellent pitcher, he had a great semifinal performance, and knowing he did well, I told myself on my way home Saturday night that I had to win the final no matter what. The good thing is, I already know Rouen’s batters—I’ve faced them many times and dominated them.
BTVF: Beyond your performance, there were your teammates. How did you feel about the team when Rouen tied the game?
When Rouen tied the game, I told myself not to get frustrated and to keep doing my job from the first inning. That’s how I stayed focused and fought until the end.
BTVF: Next year, the European Cup—will you still be with Montigny?
Of course, I’ll be with them, if God wills it. For me, the Montigny Cougars are more than a team; they’re a family.
BTVF: What can we wish for you?
For the season, my arm is good, we’ll recover. We’ll give all the confidence to our teammates because I know they can give us great games.
BTVF: Who are you, Yorfrank Lopez?
I’m Yorfrank Lopez, a right-handed pitcher. I was signed by the Detroit Tigers in the MiLB.
BTVF: You’ve been playing in France for several years. Tell us about your career.
Since 2018, I’ve been here in France playing for the Montigny Cougars. My career has been fantastic—I’ve played in Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, Germany, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Poland, the USA, and Venezuela.
BTVF: The challenge just ended in Montigny’s favor. How do you feel?
From the start, no one believed in us, but after our match against Toulouse, the team’s atmosphere completely changed, and that motivated us to keep winning.
BTVF: During the final, you must have told your coach you wanted to keep pitching. How did you convince him?
With the score tied at 4, the manager told me I’d already thrown over 150 pitches, and I told him that if I threw more than 200, I’d either lose or win the game. Thank God, the team rallied in the 13th inning to score, and I felt stronger, getting the final three outs to clinch the championship.
BTVF: Robinson Maestre set the stage, was there a rivalry between you two? How will you manage your arm for the rest of the season?
Robinson was an excellent pitcher, he had a great semifinal performance, and knowing he did well, I told myself on my way home Saturday night that I had to win the final no matter what. The good thing is, I already know Rouen’s batters—I’ve faced them many times and dominated them.
BTVF: Beyond your performance, there were your teammates. How did you feel about the team when Rouen tied the game?
When Rouen tied the game, I told myself not to get frustrated and to keep doing my job from the first inning. That’s how I stayed focused and fought until the end.
BTVF: Next year, the European Cup—will you still be with Montigny?
Of course, I’ll be with them, if God wills it. For me, the Montigny Cougars are more than a team; they’re a family.
BTVF: What can we wish for you?
For the season, my arm is good, we’ll recover. We’ll give all the confidence to our teammates because I know they can give us great games.
Photo credits: Ffbs
