TOKYO — The Australian team improved to 2-0 in the World Baseball Classic, but the most eyebrow-raising moment from Thursday’s 5-1 win over Czechia came before the first pitch was even thrown. That’s when Aussie catcher Robbie Perkins refused to shake the hand of Czech designated hitter Milan Prokop, who attempted the friendly gesture as he walked into the batter’s box to lead off the game.
The awkward moment was picked up on the television broadcast and resulted in a cascade of criticism toward Perkins on social media for taking himself a little too seriously. Perkins said the refusal was rooted in his competitiveness from the moment the game begins until it ends.
Spurning the handshake, he said, was a point of principle and not at all personal.
“There’s no malice, we’re out there competing,” Perkins told The Athletic after the win. “Once we get on the field, we’re out there to beat them. That’s all it is.”
Perkins added that if he sees the team from the Czech Republic in the WBC hotel later, he will have no problem having a friendly chat.
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The 31-year-old former Rockies farmhand has played professionally in the Australian Baseball League since electing free agency after the 2018 season. He represented his home country in the WBC in both 2017 and 2023. At this year’s tournament, Perkins hit a tie-breaking two-run homer to help power a Team Australia win over Chinese Taipei to open the WBC.
Australia is now one win away from clinching a spot in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive WBC. The team shocked Korea in 2023 while playing in Tokyo, and if they can record another victory they will be ticketed for Miami.
Even if they lose the final two games against Korea and Japan, there’s a chance Australia could still advance if the rest of the results break their way. The club boasts only one player on an MLB 40-man roster — White Sox infielder Curtis Mead, who hit a 3-run homer on Friday.
Overall, Australia is one of the tournament’s least experienced teams in terms of MLB affiliation, but it boasts a roster full of players who have competed together for years on the national team.
Perkins said he thinks his club has a chance to compete for a WBC championship, and could hopefully take down any of the tournament’s powerhouses on any given day.
“It’s really just take it one day at a time, don’t look too far ahead,” Perkins said. “Look at who we’re playing on any given day, and come out and give it our best.”