Raleigh leaves his Mariners teammate hanging on handshake attempt

Randy Arozarena has been trying to say hi.

But for the second time in as many World Baseball Classic tournaments, the slugging outfielder for Team Mexico was left hanging on Monday night.

After not receiving reciprocation from Team USA catcher Will Smith when Arozarena offered a fist bump during the 2023 Classic, it happened again during Monday’s matchup between Team USA and Team Mexico -- one the U.S. won, 5-3, for its first Classic victory over Mexico in two decades.

As Arozarena approached the plate, he offered a handshake or fist bump to Team USA catcher and Arozarena’s teammate with the Mariners, Cal Raleigh. But Raleigh declined.

An exciting rivalry on the field has developed between Team USA and Team Mexico, two strong squads who faced off for the fifth time in WBC history on Monday at Daikin Park in Houston, with the U.S. improving to 3-0 in this tournament with the win.

But even with the U.S. catchers not reciprocating with a greeting at home plate, that doesn’t necessarily mean there are any hard feelings off the field. Perhaps it’s just competitive nature -- the heat of battle.

In any case, the U.S. and Mexico aren’t the only clubs to have experienced this during the World Baseball Classic. Last week, when Team Australia played Team Czechia in Tokyo, Aussie catcher Robbie Perkins declined to shake hands with a Czech player.

Perkins reportedly said it was simply a matter of competition and nothing personal, and that if he saw the Czech players off the field, he’d greet them.

Whatever the reason Arozarena didn’t get his fist bumps in the midst of competition, someone needs to go and give Randy a hug at some point, right?