Nick Piecoro

azcentral sports

Diamondbacks pitching prospect Yoan Lopez left his minor league team on Wednesday night with the intention of leaving the sport entirely, but General Manager Dave Stewart said the club has convinced him to hold off on a decision.

Stewart said the team believes Lopez is dealing with “serious emotional issues,” noting all he has been through in the past two years beginning with his departure from Cuba.

“It’s the escaping, crossing the water in a raft -- or however he got here -- living in Haiti and then going to the Dominican, leaving family members -- it’s all of it,” Stewart said. “He’s really not having a good time.”

GET THE APP:iPhone | Android

It’s the second time in as many seasons Lopez, 23, has left his Double-A Mobile team.

Last July, he left while the team was in Jackson, Tenn. The club eventually tracked him down in Florida. Neither Lopez nor club personnel has commented on last year's departure.

On Wednesday night, he left after a rough outing in Montgomery, Ala. He gave up two runs in the first, threw four scoreless innings, then gave up three in the sixth on a three-run home run before coming out of the game. Sources said he had his car with him on the road trip and left the park before the end of the game.

Stewart said he spoke to him on the phone while Lopez was driving and helped convince him to return to Mobile and meet with team personnel.

“We’re trying to get him back on track,” Stewart said. “Emotionally, he just has not smoothed out.”

The Diamondbacks had high hopes for Lopez when they signed him in January 2015 for $8 million, a bonus that triggered another $8 million in penalties for exceeding their international spending limit. Club officials believed he could develop into a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher.

PIECORO:Diamondbacks limp to season's halfway point

Download the new azcentral sports app

In 14 starts this season, Lopez has a 5.52 ERA in 62 innings with 32 walks and 36 strikeouts. He has a 4.89 ERA in 116 innings since signing with the Diamondbacks.

He has had a variety of health issues that have hindered his development, including dealing with blisters and discomfort in his shoulder and elbow.

Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or nick.piecoro@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.

Friday’s game

Giants at Diamondbacks

When: 6:40 p.m.

Where: Chase Field (Roof hotline: 602-462-6262).

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Shelby Miller (2-7, 6.79) vs. Giants RHP Johnny Cueto (11-1, 2.42).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KSUN-AM (1400).

Diamondbacks: Miller’s results since coming off the disabled list have been up-and-down; he was solid in his first game back, giving up only one run on five hits in 6 2/3 innings for his second victory of the season, but he struggled last Saturday against the Rockies. … The seven runs and 11 hits he gave up were season-highs. … This will be the third time Miller faces the Giants this season and although he was winless in both attempts, he holds a 2.65 ERA in his career against them. … Cueto has been a stellar addition for the Giants, who have gone 14-2 in his starts. … He ranks among National-League leaders in wins, ERA and innings pitched. … In his last outing, however, Cueto was roughed up by the Phillies as he was tagged for six runs – which tied a season-high.

Up next

Giants: The Giants had dropped three straight and four of their previous five before playing the Athletics Thursday, but they entered action atop the NL West and with a six-game lead over the Dodgers. Their 49 wins are the third-highest in baseball, trailing only the Cubs and Rangers. Injuries, however, are challenging San Francisco to keep pace. Three regulars are out of commission with second baseman Joe Panik (concussion symptoms) the latest to be sidelined; third baseman Matt Duffy (Achilles' strain) and right fielder Hunter Pence (torn right hamstring tendon) are also out along with starter Matt Cain (right hamstring strain). The bullpen, which is without setup man Sergio Romo due to an elbow injury, has struggled lately but overall, the Giants’ team ERA of 3.59 is fifth-best in the National League. Starters Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto have been invaluable. San Francisco also has the fifth-best offense in the NL with a .264 average. First baseman Brandon Belt is hitting a team-high .299 with 10 home runs.

Coming up

Saturday: At Chase Field, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (4-6, 4.99) vs. Giants RHP Jeff Samardzija (8-5, 3.91).

Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (4-7, 4.69) vs. Giants RHP Albert Suarez (3-1, 3.83).

Monday: At Chase Field, 6:10 p.m., Diamondbacks TBD vs. Padres RHP Luis Perdomo (2-3, 8.49).