Giants Players Reflect on World Baseball Classic Experience

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Following a thrilling victory by Venezuela over Logan Webb and Team USA, players Luis Arraez, Jose Butto, and Webb found themselves on a charter flight back to Arizona together, reconnecting as teammates after their intense rivalry.

The three Giants players returned from Miami late Wednesday night, accompanied by their families. Just a day later, Webb was gearing up for the upcoming season at Salt River Fields, but the sting of that loss lingered.

“There was some vandalism today,” Webb remarked. “Honestly, I didn’t really like it.”

While Arraez was celebrating with a bottle of 2015 Dom Perignon gifted for the championship, Webb’s emotions were visibly raw; he was still grappling with the loss and how Team USA was perceived.

“It felt like there was this narrative that we didn’t care, and that’s totally false. We probably cared the most out of everyone,” Webb stated. “We might do things differently, but we were focused and united. We were like brothers for those two weeks, and it was a blast. We’re all pretty heartbroken over not winning. I really wish we could have.”

The US team’s serious demeanor contrasted sharply with the Venezuelan squad’s vivacity. Arraez, serving as captain, urged his teammates to enjoy the game like children.

“That’s exactly why we won. We were just having fun,” Arraez expressed. “You saw us dancing; that joy was key to our gold medal.”

Emotion filled the moment for Cubs pitcher Daniel Palencia, who shed tears before making the final out, reflecting a similar sentiment in Arraez, who believed the WBC title meant more than a World Series win. He felt overwhelmed seeing videos of Venezuelan fans crying joyful tears.

“I opened my phone and just started crying again,” Arraez shared. “This means so much to me, my family, and my country. Things are tough in Venezuela right now; people need a reason to cry joyfully. That’s why we brought home the championship.”

Interestingly, this victory occurred in the very nation that had, not long ago, been a backdrop to political strife. About a thousand miles north, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro languished in a New York jail while his country celebrated its first WBC win.

While Arraez chose not to delve into the political climate surrounding their matchup with the USA, he did mention how the Venezuelan team had seen congratulatory posts from former President Trump leading up to the game. Trump had suggested that Venezuela could be welcomed as the 51st state due to their baseball prowess.

“We just wanted to prove that as Venezuelans, we can achieve anything,” Arraez said.

Webb, who now harbors a deep appreciation for Venezuelan fans’ fervor, acknowledged the electric atmosphere in Miami, saying it was unparalleled compared to previous Giants-Dodgers playoff matchups.

Even two days later, his voice was hoarse from the intensity of cheering.

“You could hear piercing sounds throughout the game,” he noted. “The Venezuelan crowd never stopped. It was just incredible. I honestly don’t know if it’ll be replicated in Major League Baseball.”

Before fully shifting his attention to the season, Webb made a point to clarify his earlier actions regarding the silver medal he had removed. Though he was upset about the game, he claimed his intentions weren’t meant to disrespect anyone.

“When we walked into the clubhouse, it felt weird to keep wearing the medals,” Webb explained. “Did we really need to parade them all the way to our lockers? I think that was a bit much, to be honest. Sure, I was frustrated, but that’s just how it goes sometimes.”

In a gesture of goodwill, before leaving the field, Webb congratulated Arraez and Butto and expressed his hopes for the future.

“He told me, ‘Congratulations, Luis. Let’s head back to Arizona and make San Francisco proud,’” Arraez recalled.