The Atlanta Braves have acquired infielder Nicky Lopez from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for pitcher Taylor Hearn, the clubs announced Sunday.
Lopez was drafted by the Royals in the fifth round, 163rd overall, in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft. He made his MLB debut in 2019 and has played 519 career games with the team over the span of five seasons.
Over 67 games for the Royals in 2023, Lopez is slashing .212/.323/.281 with 19 runs scored, 21 walks and 30 strikeouts. The 28-year-old has made starts at third base (24), second base (22), shortstop (4), left field (2) and first base (1) this season.
Hearn, also 28, had only just been acquired by the Braves from the Texas Rangers on July 24. The left-hander has spent the majority of 2023 playing for triple-A Round Rock, where he had a 3.66 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 24 appearances.
Hearn has pitched five games in the majors this season, four with the Rangers and one with the Braves. Upon acquiring Hearn, a 40-man roster player, the Royals optioned him to triple-A Omaha.
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