SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The emotions came pouring out of Luis Arraez after he watched Venezuela defeat Team USA, 3-2, and win his country’s first World Baseball Classic title on Tuesday.
He fell to his knees and wept on the field. He belted the Venezuelan national anthem at the top of his lungs during the trophy presentation. When he saw clips of people celebrating the historic triumph back home, he teared up again.
“When you see the videos, you see those people crying,” Arraez said Thursday. “As soon as I opened my phone, I started crying again. That's so big for me, for my family and then for my country. To get there and try to do my thing and then try to bring the energy, try to score runs, try to get outs for my country is amazing.”
Arraez served as Venezuela’s flag bearer and led his team out onto the field before the final, so it felt fitting that he had a hand in helping to spark the decisive rally. The 28-year-old infielder admitted he was upset after seeing Bryce Harper launch a game-tying home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, but he knew he had to stay locked in since he was due to lead off the top of the ninth.
2026 World Baseball Classic
Final presented by Capital One
• Champs! Venezuela beats USA in final
• Box score: Venezuela 3, USA 2
• Maikel Garcia named Classic MVP
• '26 Classic All-Tournament Team
• Final bracket, full results
• Complete coverage
Arraez ended up drawing a walk to put the go-ahead run on for Eugenio Suárez, who delivered a go-ahead RBI double to score pinch-runner Javier Sanoja from second.
“We worked together and we never gave up,” Arraez said. “They tied the game in the bottom of the eighth, and then I was the leadoff [guy] the next inning. I said, ‘I need to get on base. I need to get on base. I need to start the rally.’ And then we scored the winning run.”
Arraez wasn’t the only Giant who came home with a gold medal (and a 2015 bottle of Dom Pérignon that Venezuelan manager Omar López gifted to each member of his team).
Right-handed reliever José Buttó also emerged as a key piece of Venezuela’s bullpen, firing 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his five WBC appearances.
“He was amazing,” Arraez said. “I faced Buttó a lot of times. This guy is one of the nastiest relievers right now. If it were up to me, I’d put him as a starting pitcher. He's one of the best relievers in the league. If I’m a manager, I’d put him as a starter. He’s got good stuff. Changeup, slider, sweeper, everything.”
Buttó’s ability to rise to the occasion during the tournament should give the Giants confidence that he’ll be able to serve as a potential back-end piece for their bullpen this year.
“He is incredibly pro-like in his work every day,” manager Tony Vitello said. “He's almost kind of militaristic. Not that he doesn't have personality to him, but it’s how he handles his business. It makes sense that when you go out there, and the crowd is the loudest baseball crowd arguably ever, and the hitters are all Major League All-Stars, he's [unfazed]. I think it's a good lesson to be learned for maybe younger guys, but maybe just our players, too.”
Arraez and Buttó didn’t have much time to celebrate Venezuela’s win, as they had to hop on a flight back to Arizona on Wednesday with Giants ace Logan Webb, who was forced to settle for a silver medal despite making two dominant starts for Team USA earlier in the tournament.
It wasn’t the outcome that Webb wanted, but he still made sure to meet Arraez on the field after the game and congratulate him on Venezuela’s victory.
“I really appreciate him,” Arraez said. “He said, ‘Congratulations, Luis. Now let's go to Arizona and try to get to the team and then let's make San Francisco happy.’”