Team Panama was fighting to stay alive in the World Baseball Classic on Monday night, but the biggest drama might have happened in the dugout.
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Here’s the video of Jonathan Arauz and José Mayorga getting into it in the dugout. Panama had a very disappointing showing and the frustrations boiled over in the final inning after Arauz didn’t run out a ground ball pic.twitter.com/zcePj2mjvu
— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) March 9, 2026
During Panama's elimination game against Colombia in San Juan, veteran infielder Jonathan Arauz got into a heated confrontation with manager Jose Mayorga.
And it got intense fast.
Arauz entered the game as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth with Panama trailing 4-3. He grounded out to second base to start the inning, but what happened next drew just as much attention as the play itself.
Arauz did not hustle out of the batter's box. That's a baseball no-no.
As he returned to the dugout at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, Mayorga appeared to confront him about the effort. Words were exchanged, tempers flared and teammates had to physically restrain Arauz as the argument escalated.
Broadcast cameras caught the entire moment.
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 pic.twitter.com/jhgdbSj91X
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) March 9, 2026
Former MLB pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith, calling the game on FS2, suggested frustration may have been boiling over. Arauz, a former major leaguer, had limited opportunities during the tournament and entered the game with just five at-bats.
Sometimes that tension spills out.
The drama did not change the outcome. Panama's rally fell short and Colombia held on for a 4-3 win, knocking Panama out of the tournament.
But for a few moments in the ninth inning, the biggest battle was not between the teams. It was inside the Panama dugout.
