MINNEAPOLIS – Alejo Lopez has been the most dominant hitter in the Cincinnati Reds’ farm system, but he’s come too far to be satisfied now.
Lopez, a 25-year-old second baseman, reached base in all 25 games he played at Double-A Chattanooga this year. He hit .362 and produced a .437 on-base percentage in 105 at-bats, which earned him a promotion to Triple-A Louisville.
The scary part? He’s hitting even better at Louisville.
Lopez, a switch-hitter, is hitting .388 with a .481 OBP in 18 games at Triple-A with nine doubles, two homers, 14 RBI and 17 runs scored. His on-base streak ended with a 0-for-3 game on June 4, but he already has seven multi-hit games while batting at the top of Louisville’s lineup.
“It means a lot, but I mean it’s only going to be worth it when I’m being great at the best level,” said Lopez, who has reached base in 41 of his 43 games this year. “I didn’t sign to be a minor leaguer and I didn’t come this far just to be satisfied now.”
Lopez was a 27th-round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, but all he’s done in his minor league career is hit. The difference now is that he’s added some power to his swing, hitting more doubles (18) in his 43 games this season than any previous year.
He was with the Reds in spring training this year, so he’s been on the radar for a potential callup. He played well at the alternate site before the minor league season began.
