Team USA Star Refuses to Shake Hands With Team Mexico Player

The World Baseball Classic is usually a tournament that features friendly competition between the top baseball players in the world, often putting teammates against teammates as they each represent their respective home countries. However, sometimes those games are not so friendly.

During Monday night's pool play matchup between the United States and Mexico, things seemed to get a little heated between two Major League Baseball teammates as one refused to shake the hand of the other.

Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena

Catcher Cal Raleigh and outfielder Randy Arozarena are heading into their third season as teammates with the Seattle Mariners.

Raleigh has played his entire career with the Mariners, making his MLB debut in 2021 after he was drafted by the team in the third round back in 2018. Arozarena, meanwhile, joined the Mariners back in 2024 by way of a trade with the

The two have been teammates for about half of the 2024 season, the entire 2025 season, and are heading into the 2026 season as teammates. Up to this point, there has been no sign of conflict between the two of them.

Raleigh Refuses a Handshake

During Monday night's game, Arozarena approached the plate for his at-bat when he stopped before entering the batter's box to offer a handshake to his Mariners teammate. Raleigh, however, did not reciprocate the gesture.

After Arozarena extended his hand, Raleigh refused to extend his own for a handshake. The two then appeared to briefly exchange some words before Arozarena ultimately pulled his hand away and stepped into the batter's box for his at-bat without shaking Raleigh's hand.

Cal Raleigh declines handshake with Seattle teammate, Randy Arozarena #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/bBT1JsAuW4

— ???? Strawbarry Bonds 11:11 ???? (@EvaLaMorte) March 10, 2026

It's not clear what the two players said to each other, but it was clear that Raleigh had no interest in shaking Arozarena's hand.

Arozarena Not Happy

After the game, which the United States ultimately won by a final score of 5-3, Arozarena expressed his displeasure to a reporter.

In some comments translated from Spanish to English, Raleigh had some strong words for his teammate following the incident.

"I'd like to tell him in four languages, that's what I'd like," Arozarena continued. "First I'll tell him in Spanish, look. All he has to do is thank God he has such wonderful parents, yeah? That his parents are very well-mannered. I got to see them two days ago at the hotel, and they went to say hi, they gave me a hug. Said they were very proud of me and happy to see me again.

"The other thing I want to say to him, I'll tell it to him Cuban-style. What he needs to do is go [expletive] himself. Mexican-style: he can go [expletive] himself. And in English, I'm gonna say it to him in English. That 'good to see you' he gave me? He can shove it up his [expletive]"

Needless to say, it seems that the incident has created quite a rift between the teammates. We'll have to see how they move forward from this as the MLB season approaches.