Braves' López, Angels' Soler Ejected After On-Field Brawl
Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López and Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler were ejected from a game on Tuesday night after an on-field brawl. The incident, which unfolded in the fifth inning, began after López threw a high-and-inside wild pitch, leading Soler to charge the mound. This confrontation resulted in an exchange of punches and the clearing of both team benches and bullpens.
The incident, which unfolded in the fifth inning, began after López threw a high-and-inside wild pitch, leading Soler to charge the mound.
Escalation on the Diamond
The events leading to the ejection began earlier in the game. In the first inning, Jorge Soler hit a two-run home run off Reynaldo López. In a subsequent at-bat, prior to the fifth inning, Soler was hit by a 96 mph fastball thrown by López.
The primary altercation occurred in the fifth inning. López delivered a high-and-inside wild pitch that tipped off catcher Jonah Heim’s mitt. Following this pitch, Soler charged the mound. López initially held up his hands, but both players subsequently began throwing punches. López landed a punch on Soler’s batting helmet while still holding the baseball.
The benches and bullpens from both teams cleared as players intervened to separate the two. During the intervention, Atlanta manager Walt Weiss, who was a teammate of Soler with the Braves during the second half of the 2024 season, tackled Soler. Both López and Soler were ejected from the game following the incident.
Post-Game Reactions and Explanations
Following the altercation, Soler stated through a translator, "I asked him if everything was OK and the answer he gave me, I didn’t like it. That’s why I went out there." López, also speaking through a translator, denied any intent to hit Soler at any point, stating, "On my part, there was never any intent to hit him at any point."
"I asked him if everything was OK and the answer he gave me, I didn’t like it. That’s why I went out there." — Jorge Soler
Braves manager Walt Weiss acknowledged the optics of the situation, given Soler's historical success against López and having been hit by a pitch earlier in the game. However, Weiss maintained his belief that López did not intend to hit Soler, suggesting the high pitch may have resulted from López overthrowing due to Soler's strong performance. Angels manager Kurt Suzuki expressed understanding for Soler's reaction, stating, "You get thrown at your head, you have a family, your career, you know, it’s dangerous."
"You get thrown at your head, you have a family, your career, you know, it’s dangerous." — Kurt Suzuki
Game Context and Statistics
Prior to the brawl, Soler had a notable performance history against López, with 14 hits in 23 at-bats, including five home runs and three doubles.
At the time of the altercation, Atlanta was leading 4-2. The Braves ultimately secured a 7-2 victory. Before his ejection, López pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing three hits, recording seven strikeouts, and issuing two walks.