Late Bloomer Davey Lopes Overcame Humble Beginnings to Become Dodgers Star

Lopes' path from small-town Rhode Island to MLB All-Star mirrors that of Royals' Whit Merrifield

Apr. 15, 2026 at 2:53pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic motion of a baseball player, with their form fractured into overlapping planes of color and shape, capturing the energy and athleticism of the sport.The late-blooming career of Davey Lopes serves as inspiration for current Royals prospects seeking their own path to the majors.Providence Today

Davey Lopes, a key member of the Dodgers' 1970s dynasty, overcame a lack of college scholarship offers and nearly joining the military to become a four-time All-Star second baseman. His late-blooming career mirrors that of Royals' star Whit Merrifield, providing hope for other Royals prospects who may be taking longer to reach the majors.

Why it matters

Lopes' story shows that sometimes it just takes players a bit longer to figure things out or get their big break, even if the odds are against them. The Royals currently have several prospects, like Gavin Cross, Peyton Wilson, and Brett Squires, who are in a similar position to where Lopes was early in his career, and Lopes' success could provide inspiration for them to keep pushing.

The details

Lopes was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, and played high school baseball at LaSalle Academy. Despite being a talented athlete, he received little attention from colleges and the pros. Lopes' only scholarship offer came from Iowa Wesleyan College, where he excelled in both baseball and basketball. After transferring to Washburn University, Lopes was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1967 but opted not to sign, wanting to first earn his degree. The Dodgers then selected him in the 1968 draft, and he spent five seasons in their minor league system before finally making his MLB debut in 1972 at age 27.

  • Lopes was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 8th round of the 1967 June draft.
  • Lopes was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2nd round of the 1968 January supplemental draft.
  • Lopes made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in September 1972 at the age of 27.
  • Lopes played for the Dodgers from 1972 to 1981, winning a Gold Glove in 1978 and making 4 All-Star teams.
  • Lopes passed away on April 8, 2026 at the age of 80.

The players

Davey Lopes

A late-blooming star second baseman who spent the majority of his 16-year MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, making 4 All-Star teams and winning a Gold Glove.

Whit Merrifield

A current second baseman for the Kansas City Royals who, like Lopes, took longer to reach the majors but has since become an All-Star and one of the team's best players.

Gavin Cross

A Royals prospect who, like Lopes, is still working to establish himself at the MLB level after being a high draft pick.

Peyton Wilson

Another Royals prospect who, similar to Lopes, is trying to break through to the majors after being selected in the draft.

Brett Squires

A 26-year-old Royals prospect currently playing at Double-A who could follow in the footsteps of late bloomers like Lopes and Merrifield.

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What they’re saying

“Sometimes it just takes a guy a bit longer to either figure it out or to get his break. It happened for Lopes and Merrifield. Here's hoping the Royals give this trio a chance.”

— Bradford Lee, Author

What’s next

The Royals will continue to monitor the progress of prospects like Cross, Wilson, and Squires, hoping one or more of them can follow in the footsteps of late bloomers like Davey Lopes and Whit Merrifield to establish themselves as key contributors at the MLB level.

The takeaway

Davey Lopes' remarkable career path, which saw him overcome a lack of college opportunities to become a star second baseman for the Dodgers, provides inspiration for current Royals prospects who may be taking longer to reach the majors. His story, and that of Whit Merrifield, shows that teams should not give up on players who develop at a slower pace, as they can still blossom into impactful big leaguers.