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04/21/2008 6:21 PM ET
Reds call up Hairston after hot start
Infielder will provide righty pop to lineup; Castro designated
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
Jerry Hairston earned a call-up after batting .421 (24-for-57) with three homers and 15 RBIs.  (Cincinnati Reds/MLB.com)

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CINCINNATI -- The Reds added some right-handed pop to their bench by calling up veteran infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. on Monday.

To make room on the roster, infielder Juan Castro was designated for assignment. Pitcher Matt Belisle was also formally activated from the 15-day disabled list to make the start on Monday vs. the Dodgers.

Hairston, who was signed by the Reds on March 3 to a Minor League contract with an invite to Spring Training, batted .421 (24-for-57) with three home runs and 15 RBIs for Louisville and hit safely in 12 of his 14 games.

Castro was hitless in 10 at-bats this season for Cincinnati. Signed to a two-year contract extension in September 2006, he is still owed $1,075,000 for this season, plus the buyout of his 2009 option.

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.