NEW YORK — Jorge Soler is finally paying the price for his actions last week, even though it won’t be as much it could have been.
Major League Baseball reduced Soler’s suspension from seven games to four, and he began serving it on Wednesday night. He’ll be able to return to the Angels’ lineup on Sunday, the finale of the three-game series at home against the Padres.
Soler, who appealed the original suspension, said through an interpreter that he didn’t actually speak to any MLB officials. He said the MLB Players’ Association and his agent “took care of it.”
It’s not usual for the two sides to reach a settlement without the formality of a hearing.
Soler charged the mound and had an altercation with Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo López on April 7. Soler had homered against López and then López hit him with a pitch and threw another near his head. López was also suspended for seven games, but he dropped his appeal and settled for a five-game suspension. He didn’t even miss a start, because the Braves used an off day to rearrange their rotation.
The reduction in Soler’s suspension was of little solace to him.
“I feel really bad for the team because it’s four games,” Soler said in Spanish. “I hope that we keep playing as well as we have so far.”
Soler is leading the American League with 18 RBIs. He has hit five home runs, including three during the appeal process.
Soler will be able to fully participate in pregame workouts throughout the suspension, but then he can’t be with the team during the game. The Angels will not be able to replace him on the roster, so they’ll have just three bench players.
“Obviously Georgie’s been swinging the bat really hot now, so it’s unfortunate that we have to miss him for four games, but it is what it is and we have to deal with it,” Manager Kurt Suzuki said. “We’ll definitely be waiting for him to come back.”
Without Soler, Suzuki moved Jo Adell into the cleanup spot for Wednesday’s game against the New York Yankees. Suzuki said he believes Adell is ready for the responsibility of that spot in the lineup.
“I just try to tell them wherever they are in the lineup just be themselves,” Suzuki said. “I think sometimes you can tend to overdo things if you’re in that spot or mentality, but I think Jo’s at a place now where he’s comfortable with what he’s doing. He knows what he has to do. He knows just being himself is plenty good.”
HEATING UP
Third baseman Yoán Moncada has six hits in 13 at-bats, with four walks, in the first five games of this trip. He was still hitting .184, but his .355 on-base percentage contributed to a .702 OPS.
“I’ve been doing hard work, day in and day out in the cage,” Moncada said through an interpreter. “I think it’s the result of the way I’m preparing myself.”
Moncada, a switch-hitter, acknowledged that he’s still not feeling good against left-handed pitchers, though.
“At this very moment, I don’t feel all that great against lefties,” Moncada said. “But we’re working on it so I can feel better.”
Moncada, 30, battled injuries throughout his career and last year, his first season with the Angels. He said he’s feeling good right now.
Even though his defense has been shaky at times early this season, he made a couple of tough plays on Tuesday night.
“I think his overall play’s gotten better,” Suzuki said. “Defensively made some nice plays last night, ran the bases, obviously swinging the bat well from the left side. I don’t want to say it’s a matter of time, but you see him working. He’s got a track record from the left side of the plate especially, so you’re just kind of waiting for things to click for him.”
NOTES
Suzuki said that Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder inflammation) came through Tuesday’s bullpen session well, and that Rodriguez threw all his pitches. “Hopefully soon he can be able to face some hitters,” Suzuki said. …
A day after Ben Joyce (shoulder surgery) faced hitters in Arizona, Suzuki said the reports were good. “He came out of it feeling good, feeling strong,” Suzuki said. “All I heard is he’s great. He’s right where he needs to be and kind of a normal rehab process.”
UP NEXT
Angels (TBD) at Yankees (LHP Max Fried, 2-0, 1.93 ERA), Thursday, 10:35 a.m. PT, FanDuel Sports Network, 830 AM