“We Are Family”: Arozarena and Raleigh Resolve Handshake Incident, Focus on New Season

The topic surrounding the Seattle Mariners over the past two weeks has finally reached its conclusion. Randy Arozarena issued a second statement today regarding the conflict with Cal Raleigh during the World Baseball Classic two weeks ago, and the team considers the matter settled.

“I know Opening Day is approaching, and I don’t want this to be a distraction,” Arozarena said through the team. “I talked to Cal, and I apologized for what I said after the game. Nothing from the Classic changes the fact that we are brothers and teammates. We are family, and now we’re focused on helping the Mariners win the World Series.”

Raleigh later played eight innings in the Mariners’ second-to-last Cactus League spring training exhibition game, a 1–7 loss to the Chicago Cubs, and responded after the game.

“We talked it out, and everything is fine,” Raleigh said. “Randy knows I love him, we’re brothers, it’s behind us, and neither of us will dwell on it anymore. Things are good now. We both apologized, reconciled, and I’m happy to be back here. It feels great to walk into the locker room and see everyone again. The Classic was fun, but it’s also great to be back. The family is finally reunited.”

Mariners manager Dan Wilson also positively commented on Arozarena’s statement.

“I’m not surprised at all,” Wilson said. “This is what we always say in our locker room. This is a special team, and they care for each other. It’s time; I think everyone is ready to return to Seattle and start the new season.”

Arozarena’s statement today was more detailed than the one he issued upon returning from the Classic a week ago, which did not mention Raleigh’s name, and he declined to answer questions at that time.

Raleigh returned to the Mariners’ spring training camp in Arizona on Friday, and both players appeared in the Cactus League game against the Athletics that evening. During the postgame high-five celebration after a 6–4 win, Arozarena even patted Raleigh on the spot that earned him his loudest nickname.

“The past few days have been crazy,” Raleigh said. “It feels like everyone is making their final push—some returning, some readjusting. Then we’re all heading out. But like everyone else, we are family, we’ve played together before, and now we’re excited.”

On March 9, Raleigh first responded to Mariners beat reporters via video call, apologizing for the “disrespect” caused by not shaking hands with Arozarena in the batter’s box during the game in Houston. After the game, Arozarena said some things about Raleigh in Spanish during an interview with Mexican journalists. This incident has become widely known.

However, it continued to stir because Arozarena had not directly addressed it beyond his brief initial statement. In that statement, he said: “We didn’t achieve the desired result with the Mexican team, but I’m glad to be back in spring training with my teammates. The Classic is over, and I don’t want anything to affect the Mariners. I’m focused on the new season and helping this team compete for the World Series.”

Raleigh expressed his apology during the call with Mariners media at that time. “I contacted Randy and told him, if you felt offended, I’m sorry. We were just playing baseball. I think if he were my teammate and we were facing some team in the playoffs, he would want me to bring the same energy. That’s how I see it. I reached out to him, and it’s behind us now.”

Because this conflict and Arozarena’s postgame interview circulated widely online, speculation arose about whether a rift had developed between two core players of this World Series–aspiring team. But as Opening Day approaches, both players are clearly ready to move forward.