Randy Arozarena Apologizes to Cal Raleigh After WBC Handshake Incident

In a surprising twist to the 2026 World Baseball Classic narrative, Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena has publicly apologized to teammate Cal Raleigh following a handshake dispute that stirred some controversy. Arozarena’s statement, released on Saturday, aimed to clarify the situation ahead of the upcoming MLB season.

“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. 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,” Arozarena shared, as reported by Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times.

The incident unfolded during a pool play game when Arozarena’s Mexico team faced Raleigh and Team USA. As Arozarena approached the plate, he extended his hand for a handshake, but Raleigh, the reigning AL home run champion, declined to reciprocate. While this moment seemed innocuous, it quickly escalated when Arozarena expressed frustration, telling reporters after the game that his teammate should “f*** off” and “go to hell.”

Despite the initial tension, both Raleigh and Mariners manager Dan Wilson downplayed the incident soon after it occurred. Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor even lightened the mood by jokingly extending the same handshake offer to Raleigh when his Canada team faced Team USA.

With both players now back in spring training, the situation appears to have been resolved. As the Mariners gear up for the 2026 season, Arozarena and Raleigh remain crucial components of a roster that is being viewed as a strong contender. The Mariners are currently a -105 favorite to win the AL West at BetMGM and are tied for the third-best odds to clinch the World Series at +1300.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.