ATLANTA — As a boy, Reynaldo López grew up playing baseball on modest grass fields in the Dominican Republic. He had only one pair of tennis shoes. He played every day.

His family didn’t live a lavish lifestyle. His road wasn’t easy.

And yet, on Monday, López sat at Truist Park and addressed local media over Zoom after signing a three-year contract worth $30 million guaranteed with the Braves, who will have World Series expectations next season and beyond.

“Being (from) humble beginnings, it’s a blessing to be able to do this,” López said through interpreter Rafael Becerra. “Looking forward to what’s coming. But very, very fortunate to be in this position with my family.”

López, who turns 30 years old in January, will make $4 million in 2024, and $11 million in each of the following two seasons. And, yes, he has agreed to donate 1% of his salary to the Atlanta Braves Foundation.

He brought his family with him to Atlanta because this, he said, was a big day. The contract became official.

In López, the Braves are getting a terrific late-inning reliever and another power arm in a bullpen that is now full of them.

But wait.

Actually, he might be more than that.

Perhaps he can also start games for them. We’ll get to that.

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