Raleigh Downplays WBC Handshake Incident with Arozarena: "No Issue" With Teammate

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has addressed the viral World Baseball Classic incident involving teammate Randy Arozarena, asserting there is no lingering issue between them. Arozarena expressed frustration after Raleigh declined a pre-at-bat handshake during the recent U.S. 5-3 victory.

The Viral Confrontation

The incident, which quickly went viral, involved Arozarena – playing for Mexico – attempting to greet Raleigh at home plate. Arozarena had reportedly reached down to greet Raleigh in his catcher’s squat, but the U.S. catcher declined the handshake. Following the perceived snub, Arozarena used profane language in an interview with a Mexican journalist, insulting Raleigh.

Raleigh: "No Issue," We're "Baseball Brothers"

Speaking on Tuesday, Raleigh confirmed he has no issue with his Seattle Mariners teammate, referring to Arozarena as a "baseball brother" and emphasizing their "family" bond. He confirmed speaking with Arozarena earlier in the day.

"We’re good friends and we’ll continue to be good friends, and I think we’re just enjoying competing against each other right now."

Raleigh noted his focus during the game was squarely on his U.S. teammates and the highly competitive environment of the tournament.

Management Weighs In

Mariners manager Dan Wilson indicated he planned to speak with both players. Wilson expressed confidence that the team's strong bond would prevent the incident from becoming a significant issue or lingering into the regular season, despite acknowledging their shared competitiveness as a key trait.

U.S. manager Mark DeRosa also weighed in on the competitive nature of the tournament. DeRosa stated he was fine with Raleigh's decision not to shake hands, underscoring the intensity of the games.

Game Highlights and Tournament Standings

The U.S. team ultimately defeated Mexico with a final score of 5-3. Key offensive contributions for the U.S. included a two-run homer from Aaron Judge and a three-run drive from Roman Anthony, pushing their record to 3-0 in the tournament. Jarren Duran homered twice for Mexico, whose record fell to 2-1.

The U.S. was scheduled to play Italy next, with a victory aiming to secure a quarterfinal spot.