Alejo Lopez gets first MLB hit on first pitch

CINCINNATI -- Infielder Alejo Lopez is now a Major League ballplayer, even after the odds seemed stacked against him. Lopez was called up on Monday from Triple-A Louisville.

A 25-year-old from Mexico City who went to high school in Phoenix, Ariz., Lopez was the Reds’ 27th-round Draft pick in 2015. He stands at 5-foot-10, weighs 170 pounds and has nine home runs over six Minor League seasons.

Lopez was summoned because he’s shown can hit and reach base, especially in 2021. Through 49 games at Louisville and Double-A Chattanooga, he batted .360/.437/.485 with two homers and 27 RBIs. In Monday's 12-4 win over the Phillies, Lopez entered in the seventh inning as a pinch-hitter and did what he does best, delivering a first-pitch single that got Cincinnati's four-run frame started. Nick Castellanos would go on to drive him home with a go-ahead grand slam.

“To get it all started, it was very cool that he was able to finish it off like that,” Lopez said. “Overall, the way it all happened, from the at-bat to the homer, it was an amazing moment. It’s hard to describe. I was just filled with so many feelings.”

Before Lopez batted, the crowd of 21,006 fans at Great American Ball Park gave him a nice ovation. But the fans got really loud once his hit landed in right-center field.

“There is still a lot going on right now, emotionally,” Lopez said. “When that ball dropped, a lot of pressure released off my shoulders, so that was nice. They said the first one is always the hardest one, then you can just go ahead and do your thing. I really wanted it. Anything over the plate, I was swinging.”

Prior to the game, Lopez reflected on his baseball journey.

“I’m going to be honest with you, I had to do a lot more because I really had to put myself out there,” Lopez said. “I didn’t really want to go to school. I didn’t want to go to college. I wanted to play baseball. I took a chance. I talked to my parents about it. We took a chance. We knew the odds, but I still felt confident back then. Confidence has never been a problem.

“I had to prove myself every year. I knew I had no room for mistakes. I knew I could not have one bad year, because I know how it all works. Learned to be consistent. Learn how to build a lot of character throughout the process. Now we’re here. It’s amazing. It’s amazing that the day has come.

Every day, the switch-hitting Lopez’s production was impossible to ignore in the organization’s Minor League reports to the big league staff.

“Sometimes, certain guys just have to do a little bit more. Well, he did a lot more,” Reds manager David Bell said. “I think it’s been pretty apparent that he deserved an opportunity. You’d love to see what he can do at this level. He just continually was producing and playing well. It’s more than just about the numbers. It’s who he is, the kind of player he is, the energy he can play with, his ability to play multiple positions really helps for a guy breaking in, also.”

Lopez was drafted as a shortstop, but he has played there sparingly as a professional; he's mostly a second baseman and third baseman.

With no Minor League season in 2020, Lopez sharpened his skills playing winter ball for Monterrey in the Mexican League.

“Playing winter ball, that was huge,” Lopez said. “I played with a lot of guys with plenty of experience, and I got to play baseball in a rough year like last year. That was huge. That gave me a rhythm to come into Spring Training.”

Growing up in Mexico, where his father played professional baseball, Lopez was a fan of players who starred before his time. He mentioned Tony Gwynn, Barry Larkin, Barry Bonds and, interestingly, the great Rod Carew, whom he’s watched tapes of.

“I just think it's very cool to hit .350,” Lopez said. “Yeah, I understand this is a different era and people love the long ball and it's great -- watching a home run, it's hard to do, so it's cool to appreciate it. But hitting .350 is just a different beast. It's never going to get old.”

Gray to pitch Friday
Following three scoreless innings during a rehab assignment start for Louisville on Saturday, Sonny Gray’s next start will be for the Reds. Gray will be activated from the 10-day injured list to face the Cubs on Friday.

Gray has been on the IL with a right groin strain since June 9. He also had a sore back a few days ago that pushed back his original rehab start date.

“I feel 100 percent now moving forward,” Gray said. “Obviously, the goal is to stay that way. Just stay that way and do what I can do to put my body and myself in the best positions.”

Gray threw 53 pitches against Indianapolis with one hit, three walks and four strikeouts during a 6-1 win.

“I didn't take a ton of time off from throwing, I continued throwing,” Gray said of his IL stint. “I threw three [bullpen sessions] with the team, and then I went to Louisville and I threw, so I kind of kept my arm moving the whole time. In spring when I went down, I didn't play catch for a long time, so that process was different.”

Heineman DFA'd
To make room on the 26- and 40-man rosters for Lopez, outfielder Scott Heineman was designated for assignment. Heineman, who started in center field in Sunday’s 4-0 loss and got a bloop single, was 3-for-30 (.100) with two homers in 19 games this season.

“He just wasn’t getting many opportunities. It made it tough on him,” Bell said. “It’s just a tough role. We’ll see what happens with him. The big thing with Scott, it had a lot to do with how well Lopez was playing and him forcing the issue. We’ll see if Scott ends up back here. It wasn’t an easy decision by any means, because we know what he can do and we know he can help us.”