Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jorge Soler's suspension was reduced from seven to four games by Major League Baseball following his appeal, multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday.
Soler, 34, reportedly will begin serving his ban on Wednesday as Los Angeles plays the third contest of its four-game series against the host New York Yankees. He will remain out until Sunday when the Angels conclude a three-game set versus the visiting San Diego Padres.
Soler was suspended following a benches-clearing
incident involving multiple players from the Atlanta Braves and Angels during their game on April 7.
Soler belted a two-run homer off Reynaldo Lopez in his first at-bat before the latter hit him with a pitch on his left hand in his next trip to the plate. Soler then took exception to a high and inside fifth-inning fastball that glanced off the glove of catcher Jonah Heim and bounced to the backstop.
Soler stared at Lopez for several seconds before jogging to the mound. Both players then squared up and began throwing punches, none of which appeared to land squarely, as players from both teams rushed in. Lopez fended Soler off with his glove and threw punches with his right hand, which still held the baseball.
Braves manager Walt Weiss ended up tackling Soler on the first base line to help break up the fracas.
Soler was the 2021 World Series MVP for the Braves and is now on his third different team since that brief stint, plus a return to Atlanta in 2024.
Lopez reached a settlement with MLB, reducing his suspension to five games.
--Field Level Media
