CINCINNATI (AP) – Luis Lopez knows his season is over. He’s not ready to give up on his career, though.

Lopez was put on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a torn right hamstring. He originally thought it was just a strain, but an MRI revealed the career-threatening injury.

“I knew that I did something, but nothing of that magnitude,” said Lopez, who appeared in only 17 games with the Cincinnati Reds this season. “I’ve still got a lot to offer baseball.”

The 34-year-old Lopez described the injury as being similar to one that ended Ken Griffey Jr.’s season last year, when he pulled the muscle from the bone.

“It’s a shame, but it’s reality,” Lopez said. “The first step is to let the swelling go down.”

To fill Lopez’s roster spot, the Reds recalled infielder William Bergolla from Triple-A Louisville.

Lopez has played in more than 90 games just twice in a 10-year career: in 1999 with the New York Mets (117 games) and in 2001 with Milwaukee (92 games).

He also played for San Diego and Baltimore, and signed a minor league contract with Cincinnati in December. Lopez was promoted to the Reds’ roster May 20 and started two games at second base and two at shortstop.

Now he’s headed home to Puerto Rico to discuss possible surgery – again – with his wife. He missed the entire 1995 season because of Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

“It’s not what I expected. But if I want to play baseball again, I’ve got to do it,” Lopez said. “I’m not going to dwell on it. I’ve been through a lot of stuff in my career.”

Bergolla, 22, is getting his second chance with the Reds this season. He was with Cincinnati last month and appeared in 15 games, but was optioned back to the Triple-A affiliate when Rich Aurilia came of the disabled list.

Bergolla hit .143 (5-for-35) with an RBI in his stint with the Reds.

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