Pedro

Lopez

At 23, Lopez still has youth on his side. However, it doesn’t look like he’s ever going to hit. He was at .242/.307/.323 in 161 at-bats for Triple-A Charlotte this season. He’s a downgrade from Ray Olmedo as defensive-minded infield insurance.

“I’d like to get him out on a plus note,” manager Pete Mackanin said. “He’s capable. He gives you a good effort.” Lopez hasn’t started since suffering a broken jaw when he was hit by a pitch on July 26.

J.P. Ricciardi just can’t help himself. Every time an infielder from an Ohio team goes on waivers, the Jays just have to put in a claim. Lopez joins Ray Olmedo, Hector Luna and Joe Inglett in joining the organization this year. Besides maybe Inglett, he’s the worst bet of the group. The Jays have to carry an offensive-minded utilityman if they’re really going to start John McDonald at shortstop, and Lopez doesn’t have a very good track record. The 23-year-old hit .284/.346/.368 in Triple-A this year.

Gonzalez, who missed five days back in April, is on the bereavement list for a second time because of his infant son’s illness. With Juan Castro out, Pedro Lopez will fill in at shortstop. The Reds aren’t going to be willing to put Brandon Phillips at short and use Jeff Keppinger or Ryan Freel at second, even though that would help the offense.

There was awful lot of blood, as Lopez appeared to get hit in the left cheek, but he never lost consciousness and he was able to sit up within a couple of minutes and eventually walk off the field. As much as it had to hurt, he’ll probably be OK. The worst-case scenario is a broken cheekbone. The Reds could place him on the DL and put Alex Gonzalez back on the roster Thursday.

Lopez was beaned by a Matt Wise fastball in Wednesday’s game. The Reds were expected to send him down when Alex Gonzalez returned from the restricted list. Now it looks like he’ll miss at least a month.

Lopez still has his jaw wired shut as a result of being hit by a Matt Wise pitch. He has been on the disabled list since July 26.

Lopez, who was claimed off waivers from the White Sox in May, will serve as the Reds’ sixth infielder until the team recalls Homer Bailey.

The Reds have no timetable for his return. Pedro Lopez is filling in at shortstop. If the Reds learn that Gonzalez will miss several weeks, they could go to Brandon Phillips at short and use Jeff Keppinger at second. Ryan Freel would then play a lot of second after Josh Hamilton returns.