Jorge Soler, one of the top prospects in the Chicago Cubs minor league system, is about to have his hot start in High-A ball derailed due to his decision to charge an opponent's dugout with a baseball bat in his hand, according to reports.
Soler, playing for the Daytona Cubs, made contact with Clearwater Threshers second baseman Carlos Alonso made contact as Alonso was trying to turn a double play. The two began arguing loudly and the benches cleared, but no punches were thrown.
Soler then went to the Cubs dugout, grabbed a bat, and charged the Clearwater dugout with it. Some reports say that Soler began banging on the walls of their dugout before teammate Javier Baez and hitting coach Mariano Duncan physically removed him from the situation. Whether or not Soler actually was swinging the bat in Clearwater's dugout is not clear, and as of now there is no video of the incident.
Soler is likely facing a long suspension for his actions; in 2006 Delmon Young, while in the Detroit Tigers farm system, was suspended for 50 games after hurling his bat at an umpire following what Young deemed to be a bad call.
In six games with the Daytona Cubs Soler was off to a very hot start. He was batting .435 with two home runs, four RBI and six runs scored. Last season in Single-A, Soler hit .338 with three homers, 15 RBI and 14 runs scored in just 20 games.
Soler defected from Cuba in 2011, and established residency in Haiti. Once gaining free agency eligibility, Soler sparked a competitive bidding war for his services in the outfield, eventually landing a nine-year, $30 million contract from the Cubs. According to some draft analysts, Soler would have been the top pick in the 2012 draft class.
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