Cal Raleigh has dismissed Randy Arozarena’s outburst after a World Baseball Classic (WBC) game, insisting there is no lingering animosity between the pair. The incident occurred after Raleigh declined to acknowledge Arozarena before an at-bat during the United States’ game against Mexico.
Arozarena responded with an expletive-filled rant. However, Raleigh has downplayed the situation, referring to Arozarena as his “brother”.
Raleigh’s Reassurance and Arozarena’s Reaction
Raleigh said: “I love Randy. I do. I hate that this is a thing. There’s no beef. When we get back to Seattle, he’s my brother. We’re family. I already reached out to him, so it’s just a competitive environment and I know he would want the same for me when we’re on the team and playoff baseball. I just have a responsibility for my teammates here right now and my country, and emotions are running high.”
Arozarena’s outburst reportedly included profane Cuban and Mexican slang directed at Raleigh, following the perceived snub during the WBC match. Arozarena apparently told a Mexican journalist that Raleigh could “f— off” and “go to hell”. Arozarena also claimed Raleigh had told him “good to see you” before adding that Raleigh “can shove it straight up his ass.”
Raleigh addressed the situation, stating he spoke with Arozarena and that “this isn’t a big deal at all. So 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.”
Team USA’s Perspective and Managerial Input
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said Raleigh had spoken with Arozarena before the game. The conversation was reportedly about avoiding a situation where Raleigh might offend his U.S. teammates by acknowledging Arozarena’s gestures.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson expressed his intention to speak with both Arozarena and Raleigh. He told reporters, “These guys are incredible athletes because of their competitiveness, and that’s where they’re at, and that’s why they’ve gotten to the level that they’ve gotten. But I also know that our team loves each other deeply, and that’s one of the key ingredients we have in that clubhouse, is how much they love each other. So I don’t anticipate this being any bit o.”
Background to the Incident
- The incident occurred during the United States’ 5-3 victory over Mexico in the 2023 WBC.
- Arozarena, a two-time All-Star outfielder, seemed to react negatively after Raleigh didn’t reciprocate a gesture before an at-bat.
- In the 2023 WBC, U.S. catcher Will Smith had acknowledged Arozarena in a similar situation.
It remains unclear whether Arozarena was genuinely upset or simply trolling Raleigh. The pair have been teammates since Arozarena was traded from Tampa Bay to Seattle during the 2024 season.
Raleigh set a record for home runs by a catcher last year with 60.
Despite the on-field tension, Raleigh maintains that their friendship will continue. He said that when they return to Seattle, Arozarena will be his “brother”.