WBC: Vancouver Canadians manager in dugout altercation with Jonathan Arauz during Panama Colombia clash
Photo credit: https://www.foxsports.com/watch/fmc-yfct1ddmxepd83gh
Vancouver Canadians manager Jose Mayorga got involved in a little dugout dust-up while managing Panama in the World Baseball Classic on Monday.
Vancouver Canadians manager Jose Mayorga found himself in the middle of a tense dugout confrontation Monday while managing Panama during a World Baseball Classic matchup.
Panamanian infielder Jonathan Arauz had to be physically restrained by members of the coaching staff after directing angry comments toward Mayorga in the dugout during Panama's 4-3 loss to Colombia at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico.
The exchange occurred after Araúz's pinch-hit appearance in the bottom of the ninth inning.
With Panama trailing by one run, Araúz came to the plate as a pinch hitter for Allen Córdoba but grounded weakly to second base.
After making contact, he ran only about a third of the way down the first-base line before turning back toward the dugout.
With no intention of running out a ground ball in a one run game, you can understand why any manager would be hot at Aruaz.
As he approached the dugout steps, Arauz turned toward Mayorga-who was standing along the railing-and began yelling.
The situation quickly escalated, with coaches stepping in to hold Araúz back and guide him down to the bench.
Panama pinch-hitter Jonathan Arauz had to be held back during an altercation with manager José Mayorga while they were down one in the ninth inning and facing elimination. A former Red Sox, Orioles and Mets infielder, Arauz got just one start and five at bats in this WBC
Mayorga has been managing within the Blue Jays system since 2022
Mayorga, 33, is currently the manager of the Vancouver Canadians, the High-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.
He is coming off a successful 2025 season in Vancouver, where he led the Canadians to 75 wins, the team's second-highest regular-season total of the millennium.
The club also recorded a franchise-record 11-game winning streak, prompting the organization to bring Mayorga and his coaching staff back for the 2026 season.
He spent two seasons leading the FCL Blue Jays before taking over Single-A Dunedin in 2024, guiding the team to a 69-61 record, the club's best mark since 2019.
The Pueblo Nuevo, Panama native is also familiar with Vancouver, having served as the team's bench coach in 2018.
Before transitioning to coaching, Mayorga played catcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization from 2010 through 2015.
Araúz, meanwhile, has appeared in 95 Major League games with the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Mets.
He last played in the majors in 2023 and owns a career .184 batting average in 234 MLB at-bats.
The 26-year-old spent the 2025 season in the Mexican League with the Saraperos de Saltillo.
During the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Araúz was a regular in Panama's lineup, recording four hits and three walks in 19 plate appearances while driving in three runs.
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