Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez and Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler were ejected after getting into a brawl on April 8. Both players were given a seven-game suspension, but Soler had his suspension reduced to four games on Tuesday, per multiple reports; Soler will begin his supension on Tuesday night.
Soler homered off López in the first inning of the aforementioned April 8 matchup and was then hit by a 96 mph fastball from the right-hander his next time up. In the fifth, Soler charged the mound after López threw a high-and-inside wild pitch that tipped off catcher Jonah Heim‘s mitt.
At first, López held up his hands as the two glared at each other before both started throwing punches.
“I asked him if everything was OK and the answer he gave me, I didn’t like it,” Soler said through a translator, according to MLB.com. “That’s why I went out there.”
Benches have cleared in Anaheim 😮
The benches and bullpens emptied as players from both teams tried to separate the two. Atlanta manager Walt Weiss was among those who tackled Soler, the 2021 World Series MVP with the Braves.
“I love Soler. We were teammates here,” Weiss said. “But that’s a big man, and so I just felt I’ve got to get him off his feet because he’s going to hurt somebody. And so, that was my instinct, just to get in there and get Jorge off his feet, yeah, because he was on a warpath.”
López was still holding the baseball when he landed a punch on Soler’s batting helmet.
The two were teammates in Atlanta during the second half of the 2024 season.
“It’s just a shame, the situation and how things unfolded,” López said through a translator, according to MLB.com. “On my part, there was never any intent to hit him at any point. So, again, it’s just a shame.”
Atlanta led 4-2 when the fight occurred and went on to a 7-2 victory.
Soler’s two-run shot in the first made him 14 for 23 with five homers and three doubles against López.
“Obviously, I have good numbers against him,” Soler said. “After the home run and getting hit by a pitch after that, and then he missed way too high and close to my head. At this level, you can’t miss like that.”
Weiss understood why Soler was mad.
“I know it didn’t look good because of Soler’s numbers against Lópey [Lopez], and he hit a homer, he hit him. It didn’t look good,” Weiss mentioned. “Lópey’s not throwing at him. I don’t enable our pitchers to throw at individuals simply because they will’t get them out. Our job is to get them out. However I perceive why Soler obtained offended. And he’s a extremely mild-mannered man. So, I believe the swap flipped for him.
“There was no intent there. I simply assume that Lópey’s simply overthrowing, as a result of he’s had a tough time getting him out. However he’s definitely not making an attempt to hit him,” Weiss added.
López pitched 4 2/3 innings, permitting three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
“Clearly, the man’s obtained good numbers off López and hits a homer in his first at-bat. Will get drilled up excessive within the wrist in his second at-bat after which the third one, takes an excellent swing after which throws the following one head-high. It wasn’t over his head, however it was head-high coming in,” Angels supervisor Kurt Suzuki mentioned.
“I don’t blame Jorge one bit. He went on the market and phrases had been exchanged and Jorge went out,” Suzuki added. “You get thrown at your head, you might have a household, your profession, you already know, it’s harmful. I do know it’s a part of the sport. I do know it occurs.”
The Angels gained 6-2 on Monday within the opener of the three-game sequence. Tuesday evening’s recreation was extra eventful, to say the least.
“It will get your juices flowing somewhat bit, on each groups I’m positive,” Weiss mentioned. “So, so long as no one will get damage, it’s form of an excellent time. However so long as no one will get damage. However yeah, I used to be pleased with our guys for the best way we dealt with every thing tonight.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
