Atlanta Braves hurler Reynaldo Lopez and Los Angeles Angels slugger Jorge Soler both received seven-game suspensions for igniting a benches-clearing brawl in the fifth inning of Tuesday night’s game in Anaheim.
They will also receive undisclosed fines, according to Michael Hill, MLB’s senior vice president for on-field operations.
The suspensions were scheduled to begin Wednesday, with the Braves facing the Angels in the rubber match of their three-game set, but the bans are on hold as Lopez and Soler appeal. As a result, Soler was in right and batting fourth for Wednesday’s matinee.
Things went awry on Tuesday in Anaheim after Soler homered off Lopez in the first inning. When Soler returned to the plate, he was promptly beaned by Lopez, setting the stage for their fifth-inning brawl.
When Lopez delivered a high, inside fastball that ricocheted off catcher Jonah Heim’s glove, Soler took offense and began glaring at the mound. Lopez held up his hands, as if to deny throwing at Soler, but the Angels slugger had made up his mind and promptly charged the mound.
Video of the brawl showed Lopez holding the baseball in his right hand as he tried to punch at Soler’s head.
Los Angeles Angels’ Jorge Soler (12) and Atlanta Braves’ Reynaldo Lopez (40) fight Tuesday
Standing 6ft3, 235 pounds, Soler rushed out to the mound to confront the Braves’ Lopez
Braves manager Walt Weiss, who has a black belt in taekwondo, ultimately tackled Soler
Ultimately Soler was tackled by Braves manager and former American League Rookie of the Year Walt Weiss, who happens to be a black belt in taekwondo.
Interestingly, Weiss was a coach with the Braves in 2021, when Soler won a World Series in Atlanta. In fact, Lopez and Soler were teammates briefly when the Braves reacquired Soler in 2024.
‘I love Soler. We were teammates here,’ the 62-year-old Weiss said. ‘But that’s a big man, and so I just felt I’ve gotta get him off his feet because he’s gonna 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.’
Both players have since discussed the incident through an interpreter.
‘It’s just a shame, the situation and how things unfolded,’ López said, as quoted by MLB.com. ‘On my part, there was never any intent to hit him at any point. So, again, it’s just a shame.’
Soler, meanwhile, suggested Lopez said something he disagreed with.
‘I asked him if everything was OK and the answer he gave me, I didn’t like it,’ Soler said through an interpreter, as quoted by MLB.com. ‘That’s why I went out there.’
