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The Cuban Jorge Soler directly accused the Dominican pitcher Reynaldo López of intentionally throwing at his head during the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Atlanta Braves, held on Tuesday, and provided his account of the events to the accredited press after the match.
In statements to the press, reported by journalist Francys Romero on his social media, Soler questioned the performance of the opposing pitcher and did not hide his frustration about what happened on the field. "I think I have good numbers against him. In the first at-bat, I hit a home run. In the second, he hit me with a pitch on the hand. And in the third, he threw another pitch up and in. This is Major League Baseball; he can't be throwing like that," he stated.
The Cuban gardener also revealed that he tried to reach out to López after the incident, but the response was not as expected. “Yes, I asked him if he was okay, and he replied with a curse word,” he explained.
Soler also noted that both had previously coincided on the same team for part of the 2024 season and that they had never encountered a similar situation on the field before.
The player suggested that, in his opinion, the pitches were not accidental. “In the heat of the game, obviously, I’m playing ball, you hit me with a pitch on the hand, then you throw at my head again, hello,” he said, clearly upset.
When asked if he believed there was intent from the pitcher, Soler was straightforward: "I think so; with the other batters, he didn't let the ball slip."
The incident occurred in the fifth inning, when López threw a high and inside fastball that passed dangerously close to Soler's head. It was the third moment of tension between the two in the same game: in the first at-bat, Soler hit a home run; in the second, he was hit by a 96 mph pitch on the hand.
The game, which ended with Atlanta winning 7-2, was marked by the confrontation between the two players, former teammates on the Braves during 2024.
Although no one was injured, the incident could lead to disciplinary action from the MLB in the coming hours.
Beyond the outcome, the image of Soler and López exchanging blows on the mound became the central episode of a night in which sports rivalry momentarily crossed the line of fair play.
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