Major League Baseball has issued seven-game suspensions to Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler and Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez for their roles in a recent brawl. The incident escalated when Lopez threw a pitch high and inside on Soler, who then charged the mound. The two exchanged punches before Soler was tackled by Braves manager Walt Weiss. Both players are appealing their suspensions.
Lopez stated there was no intent to hit Soler. Soler, however, expressed frustration after hitting a home run off Lopez earlier in the game and then being thrown at. Soler was the World Series MVP in 2021, the same year the Braves won the championship.
If Lopez's suspension holds, it would force him to miss one start. The Braves may adjust their rotation to minimize his absence.