Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez continues 2026 breakout in win over Rangers

Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez continued his breakout 2026 season on Monday with two hits, including the deciding two-run home run, in a 4-2 win over the Texas Rangers.

Lopez, MLB's batting leader, went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk, home run and two RBI as the surging Marlins (42-39) took the rubber match of the three-game set with the Texas Rangers to keep pace in a crowded NL wild-card field at the season's midway point.

Shortstop Otto Lopez shines again as Marlins score another June victory

Following Wednesday's game, Lopez is slashing .340/.374/.483 in 80 games. Over the two previous seasons, the five-year pro produced a .257/.308/.372 slash line, including a .246 batting average in 2025.

His breakout campaign has lifted Lopez's profile, with the third-year Marlins infielder ranking fifth among NL shortstops in All-Star voting based on Monday's ballot update.

He has a legitimate case to be higher in the results, and while he likely won't catch the top two vote-getters — CJ Abrams (Washington Nationals) and Mookie Betts (Los Angeles Dodgers) — it would be a massive snub if a first All-Star nod as a reserve doesn't await.

Per Stathead research, Lopez has recorded a hit in 63 games, the most in the majors. He's successfully gotten on board via hit in 64 of 80 games after Wednesday, showing no signs of slowing down for the major's hottest team.

In the bottom of the eighth, he blasted his sixth home run of the season off an 85 mph slider, a two-run blast that gave the Marlins a 4-1 advantage.