Jorge Soler
Jason Bishop Show April 9 2026
Brawling Braves
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Baseball has changed a lot in recent years.
The pitch clock has sped things up, analytics are everywhere, and the league has made several rule changes to modernize the game.
But every once in a while, something happens that reminds you baseball still carries a little bit of its old-school edge.
That’s exactly what happened during the Atlanta Braves’ 7–2 win over the Los Angeles Angels when tensions between Braves pitcher Reynaldo López and Angels slugger Jorge Soler erupted into a bench-clearing fight.
The moment itself came in the fifth inning, but the frustration had clearly been building before that. Soler had already taken López deep earlier in the game with a home run, continuing a trend that has seen him have a lot of success against the Braves pitcher over the years.
Later in the game, Soler was hit by a pitch, which only added to the tension between the two.
Then came the pitch that set everything off.
López fired one high and inside that got dangerously close to Soler’s head. Whether it was intentional or just a pitch that got away from the pitcher is something people will debate, but from Soler’s point of view it was enough.
He immediately charged the mound, and within seconds punches were flying as both teams poured out of their dugouts.
For baseball fans, it was one of those chaotic moments that feels like it belongs in another era. Bench-clearing fights aren’t nearly as common as they used to be, but when they happen, they still grab everyone’s attention.
Part of what makes this one so interesting to me is the history involved.
Soler isn’t just another opposing player. He used to wear a Braves uniform and was a huge part of Atlanta’s championship run earlier in the decade.
López and Soler also share a past as former teammates. So, this wasn’t just two strangers going at it. There is a lot of familiarity between the players involved.
From Soler’s side, the situation probably felt suspicious. After already getting hit by a pitch earlier in the game, and then seeing another one come up near his head is the kind of thing that can flip a switch for a hitter.
In baseball, pitchers often work inside to keep hitters uncomfortable, but there’s always that thin line where it starts to look personal.
On the other hand, López said there was no intention behind the pitch. Pitchers miss their spots all the time, especially when facing someone who has historically hit them well.
Trying too hard to make the perfect pitch can sometimes lead to the exact kind of mistake that causes trouble.
In the middle of all the chaos was Braves manager Walt Weiss, who did something you don’t see every day.
Weiss jumped into the fray and actually tackled Soler to the ground in an effort to calm things down before someone got hurt. It was an unusual moment, but it probably helped keep the situation from getting even worse.
Despite the punches and the benches emptying, the fight ended without any serious injuries. Both players were tossed from the game, and eventually things settled down.
And once the dust cleared, the Braves took care of business on the scoreboard, finishing off a solid 7–2 win.
Moments like this always spark debate among fans. Some people think baseball needs to leave this kind of thing in the past. Others, like me, see it as proof that the game still has emotion and intensity behind it.
Either way, it was a reminder that even in today’s faster, more modern version of baseball, the competitive fire that has always defined the sport is still very much alive.
Sometimes, all it takes is one pitch that gets a little too close.
Getting The Band Back Together
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Tuesday July 30th at 6pm or known in the baseball world as “the trade deadline” has come and gone for 2024.
While there weren’t any blockbuster deals for the Braves, or any team for that matter, Alex Anthopoulos and company did pull off a couple deals to improve an Atlanta club down the back stretch.
The Braves sat eight and a half games out of the NL East division race at the trade deadline but were clinging to a one game lead in the Wild Card chase.
While a few free agent signings add some pieces to an injury riddled lineup, the only trade made at the deadline was with San Francisco to bring a couple former Braves World Series impact players back to “The A.”
First off, this trade deadline was unlike others in recent memory. 2024 proved to be hugely a “seller’s market” with higher returns required because of the very few number of teams that were actually sellers.
As the standings sit, there are twenty-one MLB Teams that are within five games of one of the twelve playoff spots between the two leagues (either to division leads or one of the three wildcard slots).
The addition of the third Wild Card team a few years ago by MLB has brought mixed reviews. The intention was to bring exactly what it has in 2024 where more teams are still in contention for postseason. The downside is it drives the price up at the deadline and has mediocre teams that are contending for postseason play.
That out of the way, we turn the attention to the additions for the Braves this week. The only trade made before the Tuesday deadline was with the San Francisco Giants.
Atlanta sends reliever Tyler Matzek and infield prospect Sabin Ceballos to the west coast in return for two players that were integral in the 2021 World Championship for the Braves in Jorge Soler and bullpen piece Luke Jackson.
Soler brought home the 2021 World Series MVP for Atlanta after hitting three home runs and six RBI against the Houston Astros to secure the fourth World Championship in franchise history.
This is a very similar scenario to how Soler was acquired by Atlanta in the magical 2021 season. Three years to the day prior to the July 30th trade this year, Soler was traded to the Braves from Kansas City.
After 2021, Soler has spent the 2022 and 2023 season with the Marlins. Soler hit .250 with Miami last season knocking in thirty-six homers and drove in seventy-five RBI.
After signing with San Francisco in February, Soler has hit .240 with twelve long balls and 40 RBI. While it’s a red flag to some that Soler hasn’t played the field this season (served as the DH for all ninety-three games for the Giants), the Braves see a serviceable outfielder while also gaining a huge improvement to fill the leadoff spot in the lineup.
Luke Jackson spent five years in the Atlanta bullpen from 2017-2021 including a fantastic 2021 season that posted career bests 1.98 ERA in seventy-one appearances.
After missing all of 2022 with a UCL injury with the Braves, Jackson also battled injuries in 2023 with San Francisco with thirty-three appearances.
This season hadn’t gone the way Jackson would have liked to the tune of a 5.40 ERA in thirty-six appearances. While the Braves pen has been a strength, Jackson will be appearing in non-pressure situations.
So, what did the Braves part with to bring a couple of World Champions back to Atlanta?
Tyler Matzek played a crucial role in the 2021 Championship, but since has only appeared in fifty-three games at the big-league level with Atlanta in the past 3 years and only eleven since the end of 2022.
While Matzek quickly became a fan favorite, this may be a scenario where the change of scenery does Matzek good, and who knows…. we’ve seen plenty of fan favorite players back in the A before.
The other piece that departs the Braves organization is Sabin Ceballos, the former Oregon catcher who had turned into an infield piece after being drafted in the 3rd round of 2023.
While this deal may not be the blockbuster moves that everyone always clammers for, this could be a huge deal in the long run for Atlanta, and maybe some Anthopolous magic strikes again!
