Peoria, Arizona. — A few days before the start of the 2026 Major League Baseball season, outfielder Randy Arozarena made it clear that the incident with his teammate Cal Raleigh during the World Baseball Classic is now a thing of the past.
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The Cuban-Mexican baseball player issued a second statement in which he reaffirmed his intention to definitively close the matter and maintain focus on the team’s objectives.
“I understand that, with Opening Day just a few days away, I don’t want this to be a distraction,” Arozarena expressed through the Mariners. “Cal and I have talked and I apologized for what I said after the game. Nothing that happened changes the fact that we are brothers and teammates. It’s family, and we are both focused on helping the Mariners win the World Series.”
This new stance broadens his initial reaction after returning from the tournament, when he avoided delving into the subject and did not directly mention Raleigh.
A gesture that confirms the closure
On the field, the actions also support the message. Arozarena and Raleigh recently coincided in the lineup during Cactus League games and were seen participating normally in the traditional celebration line after a Seattle victory.
The gesture, which included direct interaction between the two, was interpreted as a clear sign that the situation has been overcome within the clubhouse.
The Origin of the Controversy
The incident occurred during a confrontation at the World Baseball Classic in Houston, when Arozarena interpreted Raleigh’s failure to shake his hand in the batter’s box as a sign of disrespect.
After the match, the outfielder expressed his annoyance in an interview, which generated great repercussions on social networks and media, fueling speculation about possible tension between two important pieces of the Mariners.
Days later, Raleigh addressed the issue publicly, assuring that he had already contacted his colleague to clarify the situation.
“I reached out to Randy and apologized if he felt disrespected. We’re just playing with intensity,” the receiver explained at the time.
Total focus on the season
With the start of the campaign just around the corner, everything indicates that both players have put the episode behind them and are aligned on the same goal: to compete at the highest level.
Within the Seattle organization, the message is clear: there is no room for distractions on a team that seriously aspires to the World Series. Source: MLB
