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Los Angeles Angels’ Jorge Soler (12) and Atlanta Braves’ Reynaldo L\u00f3pez (40) fight during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif.<\/p>\n
Ethan Swope\/AP<\/p>\n
Los Angeles Angels’ Jorge Soler (12) is tackled to the ground by Atlanta Braves players as a fight breaks out during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif.<\/p>\n
Ethan Swope\/AP<\/p>\n
Los Angeles Angels’ Jorge Soler (12) and Atlanta Braves’ Reynaldo L\u00f3pez (40) fight during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif.<\/p>\n
Ethan Swope\/AP<\/p>\n
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) \u2014 Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler and Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo L\u00f3pez each received seven-game suspensions from Major League Baseball on Wednesday, a day after they were ejected following their participation in a brawl.<\/p>\n
Michael Hill, MLB\u2019s senior vice president for on-field operations, also announced that the players received undisclosed fines. The suspensions were scheduled to begin with Wednesday’s game but were put on hold pending appeals from each player.<\/p>\n
MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association reached an agreement to have L\u00f3pez’s suspension reduced to five games, effective immediately. With an off day, L\u00f3pez will be able to keep his scheduled next start for Atlanta.<\/p>\n
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Soler started in right field and batted fourth in Wednesday’s finale of the three-game series.<\/p>\n
Soler homered off L\u00f3pez in the first inning of Tuesday night’s game. In his next at-bat, Soler was hit by a 96 mph fastball from L\u00f3pez. In the fifth, Soler charged the mound after L\u00f3pez threw a high-and-inside wild pitch that tipped off catcher Jonah Heim\u2019s mitt.<\/p>\n
As Soler began walking toward the mound, L\u00f3pez held up his hands and the two glared at each other before both started throwing punches.<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked him if everything was OK and the answer he gave me, I didn\u2019t like it,\u201d Soler said through an interpreter, according to MLB.com. \u201cThat\u2019s why I went out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The right-handed L\u00f3pez held the baseball in his right hand as he used it to throw a punch at Soler’s batting helmet.<\/p>\n
Players and coaches stormed out of the dugouts and bullpens, and Braves manager Walt Weiss tackled Soler, the 2021 World Series MVP with Atlanta.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love Soler. We were teammates here,\u201d Weiss said. \u201cBut that\u2019s a big man, and so I just felt I\u2019ve gotta get him off his feet because he\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
L\u00f3pez and Soler were Braves teammates during the second half of the 2024 season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a shame, the situation and how things unfolded,\u201d L\u00f3pez said through an interpreter, according to MLB.com. \u201cOn my part, there was never any intent to hit him at any point. So, again, it\u2019s just a shame.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Atlanta, which led 4-2 when the game was interrupted by the brawl, went on to a 7-2 victory.<\/p>\n
Soler\u2019s two-run shot in the first made him 14 for 23 with five homers and three doubles against L\u00f3pez.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, I have good numbers against him,\u201d Soler said. \u201cAfter 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\u2019t miss like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
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