The 2024 season was a low point for the Chicago White Sox - and that’s saying something. Expectations were already modest heading in, and somehow, the team still managed to fall short.
It was a year defined by offensive futility, clubhouse frustration, and a general sense of “let’s just get this over with.” For the players, it wasn’t just a tough season - it was a grind.
And now, two of those players, Nicky Lopez and John Brebbia, are heading into 2026 hoping to hit the reset button once again, this time with the Colorado Rockies.
Nicky Lopez: Glove-first, bat-light, still grinding
Lopez, now 30, has made a career out of slick defense and versatility. He came up with the Royals, had a brief run with the Braves in 2023, and then found himself in Chicago after being part of the trade that sent Aaron Bummer to Atlanta.
From the jump, Lopez was thrust into a starting second base role - not exactly what fans had in mind. The hope was that he’d serve more as a utility piece, someone who could bounce around the infield and provide steady glove work.
Instead, he became a regular in a lineup that struggled to produce anything resembling consistent offense.
Lopez’s numbers reflected that broader struggle. A .606 OPS over 124 games isn’t going to turn heads, but somehow, that was good enough to rank second among White Sox position players in fWAR. That stat says more about the team’s offensive woes than it does about Lopez’s production - but it also underscores his value as a defender and baserunner, even when the bat isn’t doing much.
After the White Sox moved on, Lopez signed a minor league deal with the Angels ahead of 2025. That stint lasted all of five games.
He then joined the Cubs for a brief 14-game run, going just 1-for-24. Now, he’s landed in Colorado on another minor league deal, trying to keep the dream alive.
John Brebbia: Searching for a reset after a brutal stretch
Brebbia’s 2024 season was equally rough, if not worse. At 35, the veteran right-hander had carved out a respectable career with the Cardinals and Giants before signing with the White Sox.
But whatever the team was hoping to get out of him, it never materialized. Brebbia went 0-6 with a 6.29 ERA across 54 appearances before being designated for assignment in August.
He caught on with the Braves to finish out the year, then signed with the Tigers in 2025 - where things somehow got even tougher. In 19 outings for Detroit, Brebbia posted a 7.71 ERA before being released midseason. He bounced between the Braves and Cardinals to close out the year and now finds himself in Colorado, looking to earn a bullpen spot in spring training.
Rockies and White Sox: Different teams, same pain
If there’s one team that can relate to the White Sox’s 2024 misery, it’s the 2025 Colorado Rockies. The Rockies came dangerously close to matching Chicago’s infamous 121-loss mark, finishing at 43-119 - just two games shy of tying the record.
And like the White Sox, the Rockies won’t see much benefit from their struggles. Due to draft lottery rules, they’re capped at the 10th overall pick despite their historically bad season.
There are changes happening in the Rockies’ front office, but expectations heading into 2026 are tempered. The team isn’t expected to be a major player in free agency, which means internal development will be the key to any sort of turnaround. And while it’s hard to lose 120 games two years in a row - some positive regression is likely - this is still shaping up to be another long year in Denver.
Lopez and Brebbia: Still chasing the game
It’s hard not to feel for Lopez and Brebbia. Both have been through the wringer over the past two seasons, and now they’re stepping into another uphill battle with a Rockies team that’s firmly in rebuild mode. Whether it’s about opportunity, necessity, or just a love for the game, both players are betting on themselves in a tough environment.
For Lopez, the glove still plays. For Brebbia, there’s always a need for veteran bullpen arms if he can find his form.
But the road ahead won’t be easy. Colorado isn’t exactly the ideal place to rebuild a stat line, especially for pitchers.
Still, for players who’ve endured as much as these two have, the fight continues.
2026 may not offer a fairytale ending, but for Lopez and Brebbia, it’s another chance - and sometimes, that’s all a player needs.