In Pool D of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Mexico outfielder Randy Arozarena extended his hand to Seattle Mariners teammate Cal Raleigh, the catcher for the United States, before stepping to the plate against U.S. pitcher Paul Skenes. Raleigh did not shake Arozarena's hand, an interaction captured in a viral video.

Arozarena, a Cuban-born player who represents Mexico and signed a seven-year, $127 million contract with the Mariners in December 2024, later addressed the moment in post-game comments translated from Spanish.[1][2]

"How do you want me to respond to Cal Raleigh?" Arozarena said. "What do you want me to tell him? I'd like to tell him in four languages, that's what I'd like. First, I'll tell him in Spanish: All he has to do is thank God he has such wonderful parents... I got to see them two days ago at the hotel... The other thing I want to say to him, I'll tell it to him Cuban-style. What he needs to do is go f--- himself. Mexican-style: he can go f--- himself. And in English, I'm gonna say it to him... That 'good to see you' he gave me? He can shove it up his a--."

Raleigh, who caught for Team USA in the 2023 WBC and remains the Mariners' primary catcher, declined to comment on the incident.[3]

Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher and 2024 National League Rookie of the Year, was on the mound for the United States. Pool D also includes Brazil, Colombia and South Africa, with the top two teams advancing to the quarterfinals.[4][5]

The incident echoes past WBC moments, such as a similar handshake refusal between Australia's catcher and a Czechia hitter earlier in Pool A play in Tokyo.

Arozarena and Raleigh will reconvene as Mariners teammates for the 2026 regular season following the tournament, scheduled for March 6-21.[1]

Sources

1. MLB.com
   2026 World Baseball Classic pools, venues announced
   September 17, 2024
   https://www.mlb.com/news/world-baseball-classic-2026-pools-venues-announced
2. MLB.com
   Mariners add All-Star OF Randy Arozarena on seven-year deal
   December 10, 2024
   https://www.mlb.com/news/mariners-randy-arozarena-contract
3. Seattle Mariners official site
   Cal Raleigh player page
   Accessed January 2025
   https://www.mlb.com/mariners/player/cal-raleigh-663623
4. MLB.com
   Paul Skenes wins 2024 National League Rookie of the Year Award
   November 11, 2024
   https://www.mlb.com/news/paul-skenes-wins-nl-rookie-of-the-year
5. Wikipedia
   2026 World Baseball Classic
   Accessed January 2025
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_World_Baseball_Classic