Angels, Braves players get into wild brawl after high pitch to Jorge Soler
Soler charges López after high pitch, ignites Angels-Braves fight
Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler charged Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López after a high-and-inside pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning Tuesday, sparking a brawl between the teams. The incident came with one out and a runner on first at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on April 7, 2026. Soler threw punches at López, who defended himself, until Braves manager Walt Weiss tackled Soler to the ground.
The pitch sailed over catcher Jonah Heim's glove, hit the backstop and allowed Heim to retrieve it for a throw to second base on a steal attempt, which arrived late. Soler, who had homered off López in the first inning, took exception and confronted the pitcher. Both players were ejected; Soler received a standing ovation returning to the Angels dugout.
Soler holds a 14-for-23 career record against López with five home runs and three doubles. The two were teammates in 2024, while Soler and Weiss shared a connection from the Braves' 2021 World Series run, when Soler earned MVP honors and Weiss served as an assistant coach.
Weiss explained his intervention: "I love Soler. We were teammates here. 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." López, through a translator, said, "It’s just a shame, the situation and how things unfolded. On my part, there was never any intent to hit him." Soler noted his success against López and the pitch's proximity to his head. Atlanta won the game 7-2.
