A month after that infamous series of incidents, former Mets relief pitcher Jorge Lopez reflected on his untimely exit from New York.
Lopez, who signed a minor league contract earlier this month and was promoted to the Cubs on Friday, spoke about a glove-throwing prank at Citi Field in May.
“I never want to do that again in my life,” Lopez told reporters before the game against the Brewers. “It’s about emotions.”
Lopez also spoke about his own mental health journey, noting his improved reactions.
“I’ve been working on my mental health for a long time,” Lopez said. “Just not letting it show anymore and bringing the best energy and the best body language to the game is my number one priority.”
The relief pitcher was designated for assignment by the Mets after being ejected from a game against the Dodgers on May 29 and then hurling his glove over the netting at Citi Field into the stands.
Lopez’s on-field behavior was concerning enough, but his post-game comments continued to disparage the team.
Lopez was heard calling the Mets “probably the worst team in all of MLB” and “probably the worst teammates in all of MLB.”
After Lopez’s interview video went viral, the relief pitcher complained on Instagram that his message had been misconstrued.
“I also want to be clear about my post-game comments: I did not intend to disparage the New York Mets organization,” the 31-year-old relief pitcher wrote. “During the interview, I was open about my dissatisfaction with my performance and how I feel it made me the worst teammate in the entire league.
“Unfortunately, my efforts to reach out to the media in English have led to confusion and have produced headlines that do not reflect what I was trying to convey.”
Lopez has appeared in 28 games for the Mets this year, posting a 3.76 ERA with two saves, 19 strikeouts and 11 walks.
With the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, the right-hander struck out one, walked one and gave up three runs in 2 2/3 innings.
If Lopez plays in Chicago’s game, it will be the seventh MLB uniform he has worn in his career, including his fifth since 2022 when he made an All-Star appearance with the Orioles.
