Marlins shortstop Otto López was one of our Defensive Player of the Month selections for July. Otto has had a terrific defensive season, playing well both at second base, where he has 6 Defensive Runs Saved and shortstop where he has 5. We got to talk to Otto on The Sports Info Solutions Baseball Podcast earlier this week to learn more about how he does what he does. Here’s what he had to say. The interview has been edited for clarity.

SIS: What is the earliest memory that you have of making a great play on defense?

Otto López: First of all, thank you for the (Player of the Month).

I remember a few plays, diving catches and things like that.

But back in the days when I was really, really young when I started learning baseball and stuff in Dominican Republic, where I born, we play with the caps (bottlecaps). I was playing with the big guys and I was the only younger guy.

And it’s super hard to – when they hit those caps – to grab it. The reactions and all of that. It’s so difficult. And I think (catching one) was one of the most impressive plays I can remember.

SIS: So how old were you when you did that? Like 10, 11, 12, something like that?

Otto López: Yeah, I’ll go nine. Yeah, nine years old.

SIS: You grew up in both the Dominican and Canada because of your father’s job, and I read an article from 2019 by Hayden Godfrey, and he said that you played basketball and hockey too. And I know that you can jump because I’ve watched a couple of leaping catches that you’ve made this season or catches to leap and where you’ve had to leap to catch a throw from someone.

Did that come from basketball?

Otto López: Probably not. It just came natural on that, on those plays that I make jumping and it’s probably the, the ability that I have.

SIS: Did you get anything out of playing hockey?

Otto López: Ooh. Probably the breaks (making cuts), but I can’t break much. I can’t break much in the field. The reaction probably came from badminton. I play a little bit too.

SIS: Tell us about that.

Otto López: Growing up, when I first got to Canada in school, we had a big tournament for us for badminton. And I just learned how to play a little bit and I keep doing it in my off season. Like I go once for a while just playing badminton, a little bit of pickleball and stuff.

SIS: Are you good?

Otto López: Well, considering the best player, no, but I’m pretty sure that I’m good. Yeah.

SIS: All right. So baseball wise, the numbers show that you’re pretty comfortable at both positions in our stats. You do very well at shortstop and you do very well at second base. What’s playing shortstop like compared to playing second for you?

Otto López: A little bit more movement and a stronger throw, of course. And just the mentality of it, like leadership. You gotta be communicating with your guys. Second base, you’re closer to first base you have a little more time to make sure you can just grab the ball and get your feet moving a little bit quicker.

SIS: How is your relationship and like your synergy with Xavier Edwards on double plays at short as compared to when you guys were playing the other position?

Otto López: It’s amazing. We communicate a lot. We’re trying to get on the same page every single time. In practice, we go on the field very early to do early work stuff, work on communication and be more comfortable doing double plays together.

SIS: So I went looking through all your best plays this season, and I think my favorite is the diving stop and throw to first from your knees against Michael Harris. But I have to be more specific because you’ve done that twice this year. You did that once at second base and you did that once at shortstop.

The shortstop one did look tougher. Do you remember that play? Can you take us through it a little bit?

Otto López: Oh yeah, I remember that play. I know Harris. He is a fast guy. So right when he hit that ball, he hit it pretty hard to my right side and I dive forward. And when I throw the ball, I didn’t know it was like that.

So I was trying to get it out quick, out of my hands, and when I throw that ball, it just, it just led to my guy making the extra play at first base. And, it was amazing. It was impressive.

SIS: What’s another favorite?

Otto López: I make a lot on shallow flyballs from the third base side. I make that run. I put my head down and just go for the ball. That’s, that’s one of the best ways that I like to make plays. Sometimes I go out there with Kyle Stowers and we have some (collisions) and stuff.

SIS: Yeah. I was gonna say I saw a collision or two.

Otto López: Ii’s pretty dangerous, but at the same time, we gotta make those plays. It’s hard ’cause you got, look at the ball, you gotta look at at your teammate and where they play. And at the same time, you’ve gotta look all around.

SIS: Who are some of the people that have helped you as you’ve come up?

Otto López: I was with Toronto before and I was a second baseman. I got a lot from Santiago, Espinal. Looking at him, I wanted to see how smooth he is with his hands. And he played with a small glove.

When I got to San Francisco, the coaches just helped me a little bit more. When I got to the Marlins, it was complete. Jody Reed helped me a lot and now Tyler Smarslok this year. We’ll look at our numbers, look at what I can be better at. This spring, I worked with him on something very important for my defense now, my first step, knowing what pitch is coming and reacting before the batter hits the ball.

SIS: What do you wanna get better at?

Otto López: We always want to get better at something. I want to get a little stronger on my throws and get better on my first step so that I can get to the ball quicker.

SIS: What’s the hardest thing about playing shortstop?

Otto López: It’s reading. Reading and knowing the plays, all the plays like, like do this before that happens. You gotta think about if it’s a man and second or first, you gotta think about where you’re going to go if the ball is hit to any part of the field. It’s a little more difficult at shortstop. You gotta know everything that’s gonna happen before it happens.

SIS: And one hitting question: You’ve done a lot better at controlling the strike zone this year. Strikeouts down, walks up, power up too. What happened there?

Otto López: I get a little more low and don’t have too much movement. I’m just trying to be simple and just use a little bit of my legs and hip more.

SIS: If a little kid, like a 10-year-old kidsaid to you, I wanna play like you do on defense, what would you tell him? For advice?

Otto López: I would say just work harder every single day and you don’t ever give up. Just listen to your dad and mom. They are always gonna be the one who’s gonna be there from now on. And most important, focus on the little work and practice each day as if it’s your last.

SIS: Nice. And play badminton too, right?

Otto López: Oh, of course. Just have some time off and just play another sport to get you out of your (baseball) mind

SIS: Yep. Otto López starting shortstop for the Miami Marlins. Thank you for taking the time to join us. Best of luck the rest of the year.

Otto López: Thank you. Thank you so much.