Even At The World Baseball Classic, The Mariners Cannot Escape Themselves | Defector

"When Arozarena first stepped up to bat during the United States-Mexico game Monday night, he offered a handshake to the catcher, his Seattle Mariners teammate Cal Raleigh, who refused it and instead said something to Arozarena, who bent down to listen. It was not the first time that a catcher has declined to shake an opponent's hand this tournament."

"Back when Will Smith declined Arozarena's handshake, Arozarena brushed off the matter straightforwardly, saying, 'He left me hanging, but I'm not going to cry. I kept going and hit two doubles.' Arozarena was less blithe about Raleigh's snubbing, leaving an extended comment to Mexican journalist Luis Gilbert."

The World Baseball Classic showcases unique team arrangements that create unusual matchups between players. During a United States-Mexico game, Seattle Mariners teammates Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh engaged in a notable confrontation when Raleigh refused Arozarena's handshake and spoke to him at the plate. This incident mirrors previous WBC handshake refusals, including Australian catcher Robbie Perkins declining Czech hitter Milan Prokop. Arozarena had previously experienced similar snubs from Team USA catchers in 2023. While Arozarena initially dismissed Will Smith's earlier refusal with humor, he responded more emotionally to Raleigh's snub, posting an extended comment in multiple languages expressing frustration about the interaction.

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