Angels' Jorge Soler and Braves' Reynaldo López receive 7-game suspensions following brawl
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler and Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López each received seven-game suspensions from Major League Baseball on Wednesday, a day after they were ejected following their participation in a brawl . Michael Hill, MLB’s 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 will be on hold as each player is appealing. Soler started in right field and batted fourth in Wednesday's finale of the three-game series. Soler homered off López in the first inning of Tuesday night's game.
In his next at-bat, Soler was hit by a 96 mph fastball from López. In the fifth, Soler charged the mound after López threw a high-and-inside wild pitch that tipped off catcher Jonah Heim’s mitt. As Soler began walking toward the mound, López held up his hands and 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 an interpreter, according to MLB. com. “That’s why I went out there.
” The right-handed López held the baseball in his right hand as he used it to throw a punch at Soler's batting helmet. Players and coaches stormed out of the dugouts and bullpens, and Braves manager Walt Weiss tackled Soler, the 2021 World Series MVP with Atlanta. “I love Soler.