Reynaldo Lopez of the Atlanta Braves has been fined $400,000 following an altercation with Jorge Soler of the Los Angeles Angels that led to both players being ejected. Lopez's initial seven-game suspension was reduced to five games after a settlement with MLB.
Braves' Reynaldo Lopez hit with staggering $400K fine after Angels' Jorge Soler altercation originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
On Tuesday night, tensions boiled over between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Angels. Jorge Soler and Reynaldo Lopez got into an altercation that led to benches clearing and punches being thrown. Both players were ejected in what was a shocking turn of events.
“Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez and Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler were ejected after a brawl between the two players Tuesday night. Soler charged the mound after Lopez threw a pitch high and inside that tipped off Jonah Heim's glove in the bottom of the fifth inning,” ESPN wrote.
MLB quickly handed down suspensions on Wednesday afternoon. Both players initially received seven-game suspensions, but Soler and Lopez appealed. Lopez later reached a settlement with the league, reducing his suspension to five games.
“Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that MLB and López reach a settlement whereby his suspension is reduced to five games and he will start serving it immediately. It’s not clear if that includes today’s game, which started a few minutes after the suspension announcement,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Darragh McDonald wrote.
Lopez will now be able to make his next scheduled start for the Braves on Tuesday, while Soler is still awaiting the final outcome of his appeal. The financial impact of Lopez’s suspension has also been revealed.
“This suspension is costing Reynaldo close to $400,000,” Braves reporter Grant McAuley wrote.
Now that the situation has been resolved, the Braves can begin to move forward and focus on their upcoming homestand. Lopez has been one of Atlanta’s top pitchers to start the season, so avoiding a longer suspension is a positive outcome for the team.
While the fine is significant, it could have been much worse given the circumstances. Lopez will take the mound for his next start in front of the Atlanta crowd, albeit with a lighter wallet.
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The altercation occurred after Lopez threw a pitch high and inside, which led Soler to charge the mound.
Reynaldo Lopez was fined $400,000 following the altercation with Jorge Soler.
Both players were initially handed seven-game suspensions after the brawl.
After reaching a settlement with MLB, Reynaldo Lopez's suspension was reduced to five games.


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