Controversial Ex-Mets Star Accused of Calling Them Worst MLB Team Gets Candid on Drama That Almost Ended Career

We might’ve all encountered déjà vu at some point in our lives. Probably, that was it for the former New York Mets player when he stepped back onto the field against his old team. A startling smell, a familiar word, and boom! You’re right back in a memory, reliving every aspect, even the bad ones. A saga that almost ended his career.

Back in 2024, the Mets were struggling with yet another difficult defeat on a seemingly normal May night at Citi Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Amidst the growing annoyance, a moment developed that soon dominated social media feeds and news channels. A Mets reliever, obviously upset, was thrown out following a heated argument with third base umpire Ramon De Jesus over a check-swing ruling as tensions rose. What followed?

A wave of rage, and all of a sudden, the glove is flying into the stands, jersey untucked, and your destiny hanging by a loose thread. The kind of drama seen in Hollywood unfolded on the diamond.

And the player at the center of this drama? Jorge Lopez. He spoke about the event in the wake of it, providing an honest analysis of his behaviour. Lopez said, “At that very moment, I was very frustrated. I couldn’t control my frustrations. I disagreed with some things, but like everyone else, sometimes we have that moment in life where we get blindsided, and well, we understand too late. We don’t know what it could cost, and I almost lost my career at that very moment.” 

Jorge Lopez’s remarks after the game between the Mets and Dodgers on May 29, 2024, fueled the anger. Many believed he had described the Mets as “the worst team in the whole f—— MLB.” However, Lopez later clarified that what he actually said was, “I think I’ve been looking like the worst teammate probably in the whole f—— MLB.”

He even emphasized the challenges of expressing nuanced feelings in a second language.

The aftermath? The Mets put Lopez on DFA’d, which left him uncertain. It followed a silence from other clubs. His phone didn’t ring for almost two weeks. He knew the justifications. The optics were poor, and teams could have been reluctant to acquire a guy who had only recently shown such clear anger. However, after some time, a ray of hope from the Chicago Cubs emerged.

His ex-coach from the Milwaukee Brewers and the manager of the Chicago Cubs called. Craig Counsell gave Lopez a chance to redeem himself, knowing his drive and promise. Lopez very well took it and, with the Cubs, gave outstanding results. Showing the ability, he recorded a 2.03 ERA with 31 strikeouts across 26 2/3 innings in 24 appearances.

Later, Lopez agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract with the Washington Nationals in January 2025. However, his season began with difficulties, including a 7.94 ERA over 11 1/3 innings. But recent performances against his previous club, the Mets, have been encouraging. His fierce nature has been in headlines on and off.

From Mets meltdown to Nationals’

Drama appears to have a talent for following Jorge Lopez, even when he wears new jerseys. Another tempest broke just when it seemed the Washington Nationals reliever had distanced himself from previous problems. He found himself at the center of a heated event on April 17 during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, raising doubts about his on-field behavior.

Lopez fastballed Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds in the bottom of the seventh inning with the Nationals down 1-0. Moments later, a high-and-tight pitch to veteran Andrew McCutchen prompted the former MVP to duck quickly to avoid getting smacked in the head. The near-miss sparked instant outrage: Benches emptied, tempers boiled, and Lopez was suspended from the game.

In addition, he was given a three-game ban for deliberately throwing toward McCutchen. Now, Lopez is contesting this ruling. For his involvement in the event, Nationals Manager Dave Martinez was also given a one-game suspension.

After the game, Lopez said he was sorry and blamed the wrong pitches on delivery issues, denying any desire to hurt. “I apologize for everything,” he stated. “I didn’t make any purpose pitch right there. I’ve been trying to find my way with my delivery, been trying to find my way through the whole season. It’s really miserable to have that happen. I regret what just happened.”

Demonstrating seasoned coolness, McCutchen accepted the apology. Notwithstanding the event, the Pirates took advantage of the change in momentum; Oneil Cruz hit a grand slam later in the inning to clinch a 6-1 win against the Nationals.

And now, as the season continues, the calmness of Lopez on the field might become a million-dollar question!