Mariners Teammates Patch Things Up After World Baseball Classic Handshake Incident

Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena has issued an apology to teammate Cal Raleigh following heated comments made after Raleigh declined a handshake during World Baseball Classic play. The teammates have resolved their differences ahead of the upcoming season opener.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena has issued a formal apology to teammate Cal Raleigh following a heated exchange that stemmed from a declined handshake during World Baseball Classic competition.

“I understand that with Opening Day a few days away, I don’t want it to be a distraction. Cal and I have talked and I apologized for what I said after the game,” Arozarena stated in a release from the Mariners organization. “Nothing in the WBC takes away from the fact that we are brothers and teammates. He’s family, and we are both focused on helping the Mariners win the World Series.”

The controversy began during a March 9 matchup where Team USA defeated Mexico 5-3. When Arozarena extended his hand toward Raleigh, who was positioned behind home plate in his catching gear, Raleigh chose not to reciprocate the gesture.

Following the game, Arozarena spoke with Mexican reporter Luis Gilbert in Spanish, stating that Raleigh “has to thank God that he has nice parents, well educated,” while mentioning he had recently embraced them during a cordial encounter at their team hotel.

The Cuban-born player, who moved to Mexico before launching his MLB career, then used vulgar slang terms to criticize Raleigh before switching to English and making additional crude remarks about his teammate.

Raleigh quickly moved to defuse the situation, referring to Arozarena as a baseball “brother” and clarifying that no animosity existed between the two players.

“I love Randy, I do,” Raleigh expressed. “I hate that this is a thing. There’s no beef when we get back to Seattle. He’s my brother. We’re family.”

Following their weekend spring training contest, Raleigh reinforced that the matter had been resolved.

“We talked it out, and everything went great,” Raleigh told MLB.com. “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.”

The Mariners are set to begin their regular season Thursday in a matchup against the Cleveland Guardians.

Seattle enters the new campaign following their breakthrough 2023 season, which saw them capture their first American League West division championship since 2001. Raleigh played a crucial role in that success, joining just six other players in major league history to reach the 60-home run milestone in a single season.