SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — One by one, they dropped to the ground in elation.

As Daniel Valencia’s glove soared towards the heavens, the likes of Ronald Acuña Jr., Jackson Chourio and Salvador Perez fell to their knees. Valencia, the closer who fired the fastball that delivered Venezuela its first World Baseball Classic title, unleashed a guttural roar and pounded his chest before he, too, fell to the turf and spread his arms out wide.

During the celebration, Logan Webb tracked down Luis Arraez to offer his congratulations. On Tuesday evening, Arraez and Webb were opponents with a championship on the line. Teammates, once again, they’ll resume working toward creating another reason to celebrate in October.

“When you see the videos, you see the people crying,” said second baseman Luis Arraez. “As soon as I open my phone, I start crying again. It’s so big for me, my family and my country.”

“You can see how much they care,” Webb said. “We cared a lot, too. I couldn’t tell you I was happy about it, but I was happy for my teammates. Him and José (Buttó). ... Then we all flew back together, which was fine, but it was kind of weird saying congratulations to all these guys. There was some ragging going on today. I didn’t really particularly like it, to be honest.”

Webb was only a spectator for Venezuela’s 3-2 win in the final after two excellent outings against Brazil in pool play and Canada in the quarterfinals, but Arraez set the stage for Venezuela to score the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth by drawing a walk. Javier Sanoja pinch-ran for him, stole second and scored on a double by Eugenio Suárez.

Both Arraez and Webb were deservedly named to the All-Tournament team. Arraez had a .308 batting average and 1.059 OPS with 10 RBIs, becoming the first player in WBC history with two multi-homer games. Webb, meanwhile, was one of the best pitchers in the tournament, allowing one run over 8 2/3 innings with 11 strikeouts.

“I want to win a World Series because the major leagues pay me good money, but representing your country, it’s one of the best things (I can do),” Arraez said.

Right-handed reliever José Buttó played an invaluable part in Venezuela’s championship run as well, pitching 5 2/3 scoreless innings in the tournament and putting up a zero in the sixth inning of the final.

“He was amazing,” Arraez said. “I’ve faced Buttó a lot of times, and I’ve said this guy’s one of the nastiest relievers right now. If it were up to me, I’d put him at starting pitcher. He’s one of the best relievers in the league.”

Arraez, Buttó and Webb didn’t have much time to linger with their national teams after the tournament.

Venezuela celebrated deep into the night after winning the title, but Arraez and Buttó had to board a flight back to Arizona around noon on Wednesday. While Arraez and Buttó didn’t play on Thursday, Webb started against the Colorado Rockies and allowed six runs over 4 1/3 innings to Colorado, leaving midway through the bottom of the second before reentering for the bottom of the third.

Webb would like to participate in the tournament again, adding that he’s open to having the WBC in the middle of the MLB season. The two-time All-Star said he would want to pitch for the United States in the Olympics in 2028 if major league players are allowed to participate.

Webb also expressed his surprise that he became the face of another small controversy. Webb was one of several players who took off his silver medal shortly after receiving it, but said that the whole ordeal was blown out of proportion.

“I got the medal, I said hi to (Team USA manager Mark DeRosa) and then we were going into the clubhouse. It’s not like we were standing out there with the medal on,” Webb said. “I mean, do I have to wear it all the way to my locker? ... It sucks that I’m the picture of that. I did it right before I got in the dugout. It kind of sucks. Yeah, I was pissed off, but if I was sitting out there and then I did that, it’d be a different story.”

Bericoto wins Nugent Award

Outfielder Victor Bericoto was one of three players who were reassigned to minor league camp, but he left camp with some hardware in hand.

Bericoto was named the 2026 Barney Nugent Award winner, which goes to the Giant in his first major league camp, whose performance and dedication in spring training best exemplified the Giants’ spirit.

The award is voted on by players, coaches, training staff and clubhouse staff. He is the first Venezuelan-born player to win the award since Felix Escalona in 2002.

Bericoto, 24, left quite the impression during Cactus League play. Among Giants who have played at least 10 games, Bericoto leads San Francisco in batting average (.474), home runs (three), RBIs (14) and OPS (1.264).

Along with Bericoto, infielder Oslevis Basabe and right-hander Gregory Santos were also reassigned to minor league camp.

Bader dealing with injury

Center fielder Harrison Bader is currently dealing with left hamstring tightness and is considered day-to-day, but Vitello believes Bader should be ready for Opening Night next Wednesday against the New York Yankees at Oracle Park.