Soler charges López after high pitch, sparks Angels-Braves fight
Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler charged the mound at Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López during the bottom of the fifth inning Tuesday, igniting a brawl between the teams. The confrontation followed a high-and-inside pitch from López that sailed over catcher Jonah Heim's glove, caromed off the backstop and prompted Heim's late throw to second base on a runner attempting to steal. Braves manager Walt Weiss tackled Soler to the ground amid the scrum, and Soler received a standing ovation from the Angel Stadium crowd upon his ejection while returning to the dugout.
The game took place April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, California. Soler had homered off López in the first inning. López, speaking through a translator, called the incident a shame with no intent to hit Soler. Soler cited his success against López and the pitch's proximity to his head as reasons for his reaction.
Soler went 14-for-23 lifetime against López with five home runs and three doubles. Weiss, who served as Braves assistant coach during their 2021 World Series championship when Soler earned MVP honors, praised Soler's character but intervened to prevent injury. Soler and López were teammates in 2024.
Atlanta defeated the Angels 7-2.
