Arozarena Apologizes to Raleigh After World Baseball Classic Incident
Seattle Mariners teammates Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh have resolved a disagreement stemming from an incident during the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Arozarena issued a statement Saturday apologizing for expletive-laced comments directed at Raleigh after Raleigh declined a handshake before an at-bat in a game between the United States and Mexico on March 9th.
Handshake Rejection Sparks Controversy
The incident occurred when Raleigh, adhering to what appeared to be Team USA policy during the tournament, did not shake Arozarena’s hand before a plate appearance. This led to a visibly frustrated Arozarena, who subsequently made critical remarks in an interview with a Mexican journalist as reported by MLB.com.
Apologies and Reconciliation
Arozarena released a statement through the Mariners, expressing his regret and emphasizing the strong bond between the two players. “I understand that with opening day a few days away, I don’t want it to be a distraction,” Arozarena said. “Cal and I have talked and I apologized for what I said after the game. Nothing in the WBC takes away from the fact that we are brothers and teammates.” ESPN
Raleigh also confirmed the resolution, stating, “We talked it out and everything went great. Randy knows that I love him, and he’s a brother, and it’s in the past and none of us are carrying this forward. We’re in a good spot. We talked it out. We were both sorry, and we both got in a good place and we’re both happy to be here, too.” MLB.com
Mariners Manager Supports Players
Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson acknowledged the competitiveness of his players and expressed confidence in their ability to move forward. “These guys are incredible athletes because of their competitiveness, and that’s where they’re at,” Wilson said. MLB.com He added that the team is a “special group” and that the players appreciate each other. USA Today
Looking Ahead
The Mariners, who were the West American champions last season, will begin their regular season on Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians. The resolution of this issue allows the team to focus on the upcoming season with a united front. USA Today