One moment could change one's career trajectory.
That is what is about to happen to Jorge Lopez of the New York Mets after his meltdown on the field in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The trajectory is going somewhere, but it's not that nice.
Lopez's meltdown started when he gave up a two-run homer to Shohei Ohtani that allowed the Dodgers lead to balloon to 9-3. The Mets were doing relatively well before that.
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After his moment with Ohtani, he yelled at the third baseman umpire Ramon De Jesus, leading to his ejection.
He was not done.
As he walked away from the field, he was caught throwing his cap in front of the Mets bench and his gloves to the stands.
The Mets have now fallen to 22-33, fourth place in the National League East.
The loss meant they had been swept four times in May.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said his actions were not acceptable.
"Whenever you go into a stretch like this, you're going to see some emotions from players," Mendoza said postgame.
"But what we saw today out of (López), that's not acceptable. We will address that internally here."
Lopez was unapologetic, though.
"I don't regret it," he said. "I'm the way I am."
When asked about his standing with the team, he said:
"I'm ready to come back tomorrow if they want me to be here."
Not only does he not feel sorry for his actions, but he even ripped his own team in front of reporters.
He called his team "the worst team in the whole [expletive] MLB."
When asked if he intended to call the Mets the worst team in the majors, he replied, "Yeah, probably."
Mets reporter Anthony DiComo later clarified Lopez's comments, suggesting that the pitcher was probably referring to himself.
"Regarding confusion over whether López said he was on 'the worst team' or was 'the worst teammate,' I'm told López later explained his comments as a combination of both: the worst teammate on the worst team," DiComo wrote on X.
Such clarification might not change anything about his career.
Mets exploring Jorge Lopez trade
Mets' front office did not waste time addressing Lopez's actions by putting the DFA tag on him.
This means he will be designated for an assignment, including seeking a trade option for the 31-year-old pitcher.
They can release or send him to the minors if no team claims him on waivers.
Lopez's days with the Mets might be over.
Mets is the Puerto Rican's eighth team since entering the league in 2015.
His best years came in 2022 when he was named to the All-Star Game as part of the Baltimore Orioles.
The moment encapsulates the Mets' another failed season after spending again in the market.
They could be hitting rock bottom.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said that they will sell at the trade deadline, signaling their season could be over soon.
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