Brawl breaks out between Braves pitcher Reynaldo López and Angels slugger Jorge Soler - AP News

Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López and Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler were ejected after getting into a brawl Tuesday night. Soler homered off López in the first inning, then was hit by a 96 mph fastball from the right-hander his next time up. In the fifth, Soler charged the mound after López threw a high-and-inside wild pitch that tipped off catcher Jonah Heim’s mitt. At first, López held up his hands as the two glared at each other before both started throwing punches. The benches and bullpens emptied as players from both teams tried to separate the two. Atlanta manag...

Brawl breaks out between Braves pitcher Reynaldo López and Angels slugger Jorge Soler

Los Angeles Angels’ Jorge Soler (12) and Atlanta Braves’ Reynaldo López (40) fight during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A fight breaks out during the fifth inning of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

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. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López (40) is held back after a fight broke out during the fifth inning of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López and Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler were ejected after getting into a brawl Tuesday night.

Soler homered off López in the first inning, then was hit by a 96 mph fastball from the right-hander his next time up. In the fifth, Soler charged the mound after López threw a high-and-inside wild pitch that tipped off catcher Jonah Heim’s mitt.

At first, López held up his hands as 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 a translator, according to MLB.com. “That’s why I went out there.”

The benches and bullpens emptied as players from both teams tried to separate the two. Atlanta manager Walt Weiss was among those who tackled Soler, the 2021 World Series MVP with the Braves.

“I love Soler. We were teammates here,” Weiss said. “But that’s a big man, and so I just felt I’ve gotta get him off his feet because he’s 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.”

López was still holding the baseball when he landed a punch on Soler’s batting helmet.

The two were teammates in Atlanta during the second half of the 2024 season.

“It’s just a shame, the situation and how things unfolded,” López said through a translator, according to MLB.com. “On my part, there was never any intent to hit him at any point. So, again, it’s just a shame.”

Atlanta led 4-2 when the fight occurred and went on to a 7-2 victory.

Soler’s two-run shot in the first made him 14 for 23 with five homers and three doubles against López.

This article is republished through the USVI News affiliate desk. Reporting, analysis, and viewpoints are those of the original publisher and do not necessarily reflect USVI News.