First Base Coach
Omar Lopez was named the Astros first base coach on Dec. 23, 2019.
The 2020 season is Lopez’s first on the Astros Major League staff, but his 22nd season in the Astros organization. He joined the staff from Double A Corpus Christi, where he managed the Hooks for two seasons (2018-19), including a 2018 campaign in which he was named the Texas League Manager of the Year after leading the Hooks to an 82-56 record.
Prior to his current post, Lopez managed in the Astros system for a total of 12 seasons, serving stints at Corpus Christi (2018-19), Buies Creek (2017), Quad Cities (2013-14, 2016), Lancaster (2015), Greeneville (2011-12), the Gulf Coast League (2009-10) and the Venezuelan Summer League (2008). In 2013, Lopez led Quad Cities to a Midwest League Championship title after an 81-57 finish in the regular season. That team featured 16 future Major Leaguers, including two current Astros in shortstop Carlos Correa and right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers Jr.
Additionally, Lopez was named the Manager of the Year in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League for the 2014-15 season after guiding the Caribes de Anzoategui to a league-best 39-24 regular season record and an LVBP Championship title in what was his first year as the club’s manager. As a 38-year-old, Lopez was the youngest manager in the league and became the third manager in the history of the Caribes club to win the prestigious award.
In 2010, Lopez earned the Astros Player Development Man of the Year award, as he was credited with guiding the organization’s Spanish-speaking prospects through their first year of professional baseball in the United States. Prior to starting his managerial career in 2008, Lopez served as a hitting and infield instructor in the Astros Venezuelan program and was a full-time scout from 1999-2007. While in Venezuela, Lopez was one of the scouts who recommended that the Astros sign Jose Altuve, who was a 16-year-old free agent at the time.
A native of Valencia, Venezuela, Lopez played three seasons of minor league baseball with the Chicago White Sox (1996-97) and Arizona Diamondbacks (1998). He played his first professional season with Rookie Level Bristol in 1996, leading the club in walks over 55 games. In 1997 at Bristol, the third baseman hit .276 with 23 RBI while setting career highs in almost every category. He finished his career in 1998 with Arizona’s Class A affiliate at South Bend.
Omar and his wife Helen reside in Orlando, Fla. They have two children, Omar Eduardo and Emily Gabriela.