Ivan

Johnson

With Michael Toglia (shoulder) landing on the injured list, Johnson will have another opportunity to show what he’s capable of at the MLB level. The 27-year-old is just 1-for-12 with six strikeouts in 14 plate appearances with the Reds this season.

Johnson was 1-for-12 with six strikeouts and two walks in his 14 plate appearances for the Reds this season. He was backing up at both second base and first base, so the Reds will likely need to make a transacation to add bench depth.

Bleday receives his first day off since the start of July after launching his 18th home run during the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader against Cleveland. The 28-year-old has cooled off considerably following a scorching-hot return to the big leagues earlier this season, but he’s still managed to connect for five round-trippers in 22 games this month. It’ll be rookie Ivan Johnson getting the nod in left field on Wednesday evening in his place.

Johnson went 0-for-5 in four games in his first MLB stint earlier this season. The 27-year-old is hitting .278/.373/.474 in 61 games at Triple-A with 10 home runs and 11 steals. He will be on the bench on Monday with TJ Friedl starting in left field and JJ Bleday moving over to right field. That could be the regular lineup against right-handed pitchers for the next few weeks.

He had six plate appearances during his two weeks and change on the roster, walking once. Johnson returns to a .290/.388/.489 line with the Bats in 208 plate appearances this year.

Johnson gets the call to replace Dane Myers after Myers was placed on the injured list with a shoulder bruise. The 27-year-old will likely just be a bench option in this stint with the Reds.

The home run was a massive shot off of Pirates’ top prospect Bubba Chandler and was also Johnson’s third home run of the season. The Reds have moved the former second baseman to the outfield full-time this season, and he has started the year on fire, going 14-for-36 (.389) with three home runs, three steals, and 11 RBI in 11 games. The 26-year-old had just 13 home runs and 15 steals in 121 minor league games last year, so this may be a mirage, but it’s something to keep an eye on with the Reds’ offense struggling.