Team Panama did not go down without a fight in this year’s World Baseball Classic – on the field and in the dugout.
Trailing 4-3 against Team Colombia in the bottom of the ninth inning in Monday’s contest, veteran infielder Jonathan Araúz – who entered as a pinch hitter – grounded out to second base to begin the frame.
Araúz did not hustle out of the batter’s box and got into a heated exchange with Team Panama manager José Mayorga as he returned to the home dugout at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The pair was immediately separated, with Araúz being physically restrained by a member of Team Panama.
“To put yourself in [Araúz’s] shoes, he’s not playing, he’s a former major league player, he’s frustrated,” Fox Sports 2 announcer and ex-MLB pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith said during the broadcast. “And then he got some words from his teammates for not busting it, there’s so much pent-up frustration.
‘He’s probably like, ‘Oh, you have me pinch-hitting now.’ He’s probably frustrated he’s not starting on this team because he’s a veteran player and this is what happens when you start pressing.”
It’s not Araúz’s first time showing emotion during a WBC contest, as he was visibly frustrated with a teammate who did not tag up and score on a flyout during a game against Cuba in 2023.
In four games during the 2023 WBC, Araúz slashed a solid .267/.421/.333 with three RBIs – but registered one walk and no hits in five at-bats this time around.
He has appeared in parts of four MLB seasons, most recently suiting up for the 2023 Mets, where he hit a meager .136 with three home runs over 26 games.
Mayorga did not go into detail about the confrontation with Araúz after Monday’s game.
“These are clubhouse matters and stay in the clubhouse,” Mayorga said, per baseball journalist Francys Romero.
Former Mets infielder Ruben Tejada singled moments after the confrontation, but Enrique Bradfield Jr. struck out and Yankees shortstop José Caballero – who homered in the sixth inning to make it 4-1 – flew out to right field to end the game.
Colombia was eliminated from WBC title contention after Panama defeated Canada on Sunday and returned the favor on Monday, knocking Panama out of the tournament.
Both teams finished 1-3 in Pool A play, and one of them now faces relegation depending on how Canada fares in its remaining games.
Canada (1-1) is set to face Puerto Rico on Tuesday and Cuba on Wednesday. If Canada also finishes 1-3 in Pool A, a tiebreaker will determine whether Colombia or Panama is relegated to the qualifying tournament for the next World Baseball Classic.
