Felipe López (baseball player)

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**Felipe López**
Major League Baseball debut
Washington Nationals — No. 2
Shortstop
Bats: Switch	Throws: Right
August 3, 2001 for the Toronto Blue Jays
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006)
Batting average	.262
Home runs	56
Runs batted in	238
Former teams
Toronto Blue Jays (2001–2002) Cincinnati Reds (2003-2006)

Felipe López (born May 12, 1980 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican shortstop for Major League Baseball's Washington Nationals franchise.

In 1998, López graduated from Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, Florida where he set school records by hitting .521 with 15 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, 28 runs batted in and 34 stolen bases in his senior year. He was also voted Florida's Player of the Year, was a USA Today All-USA selection, and was rated by Baseball America as the best defensive high school shortstop in the country. Lopez was a 1st round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays (8th pick overall) in the 1998 Amateur draft. López made his major debut on August 3, 2001 and played second base and shortstop in a part time.

On December 1, 2002, the Blue Jays traded the switch-hitting Lopez to the Reds as part of a four team trade with the Oakland A's and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Toronto Blue Jays sent him to the Cincinnati Reds, who sent pitcher Elmer Dessens to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks sent first baseman Erubiel Durazo to the Oakland Athletics, who, in turn, sent minor league pitcher Jason Arnold to the Blue Jays.

After backing up Barry Larkin during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, López earned the starting job in 2005. López's first season as the Reds' regular shortstop was his breakthrough. He clubbed 23 home runs and stole 15 bases while compiling a .291 batting average with a .352 on-base percentages. This earned him the honor of being selected to the 2005 National League All-Star team.

López was traded by the Reds on July 13, 2006 to the Washington Nationals along with Austin Kearns and Ryan Wagner for Gary Majewski, Bill Bray, Royce Clayton, Brendan Harris, and Daryl Thompson, a minor league prospect.

When first traded to the Nationals, López's original jersey number was 7, however when Damian Jackson was traded, he turned in his number 7 for Jackson's previous jersey number 2. This is the number he currently wears.

[edit] Tattoos

Felipe López is distinctive for his many tattoos [1]. Both arms are covered in mostly baseball-related designs and he also has a tattoo dedicated to his wife, Jennifer, on the right side of his neck. However, out of respect for baseball traditions, López wears long sleeves during games — even during the summer months. The only tattoo that is usually visible is the one on his neck.