Mets pitcher Jorge Lopez blasts media for igniting postgame controversy

Mets pitcher Jorge Lopez blasts media for igniting postgame controversy

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The language barrier might have played a significant role in the controversy that followed Wednesday night's ejection of New York Mets reliever Jorge Lopez.
Lopez, a native Spanish speaker, said he was not quoted accurately when several media outlets reported him calling the Mets "the worst team in probably the whole (expletive) MLB."

After he was ejected for arguing a check-swing call in a 10-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Lopez threw his glove into the stands on his way off the field. When asked by a reporter if he regretted his actions, the 2022 All-Star not only said he didn't but also that he understood if the team wanted to discipline him.
When asked by reporters to clarify whether he meant "worst team" or "worst teammate," Lopez said both applied

However, it wasn't clear if the reliever knew the magnitude of how his words had been interpreted until the story exploded overnight.

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On Thursday morning, Lopez criticized the media in an Instagram story for blowing his original postgame comments out of proportion: "Who ever hear me I said teammate and what I said on the situation I been the worst teammate thanks media for make it worse(.)"

Regardless of whether or not Lopez was calling out himself or his teammates, the Mets designated the 31-year-old right-hander for assignment on Thursday.

"We have standards here . Behaviors like that, we weren't going to tolerate that," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday. "We made the decision, we addressed it and now we got the Diamondbacks in town."

In nine major league seasons, Lopez has a 5.42 career ERA with 29 saves. However, he had a breakout season in 2022 with the Baltimore Orioles – posting a 1.68 ERA and 19 saves and making the American League All-Star team before being traded at the deadline to the Minnesota Twins.

In his first season with the Mets, Lopez has a record of 1-2 with two saves and a 3.76 ERA in 26 ⅓ innings.