Team Mexico’s Randy Arozarena taunts Team Japan pitcher Roki Sasaki before World Baseball Classic semifinal: "What do I expect? For him to lose today"

Team Mexico outfielder Randy Arozarena is having a great World Baseball Classic.

And he knows it.

Showing as much attitude as talent while leading Mexico into Monday's WBC semifinal against Team Japan, Arozarena has become the focal point and mouthpiece of a squad just two wins from its first tournament championship.

When interviewed by MLB Network on Monday afternoon about what he expected from Japan starting pitcher Roki Sasaki, considered one of the best pitchers in the world, Arozarena said:

"What do I expect? For him to lose today.

Randy Arozarena leads Mexico with a .471 batting average in the five World Baseball Classic games he has played this spring. He is also third among all WBC players with nine RBIs, one behind Japan outfielder Masataka Yoshida and Team USA shortstop Trea Turner. He has one home run as well as a tournament-high five doubles and seven runs.

Arozarena was dealt a blow on Sunday night when the USA routed Team Cuba 14-2 in the other World Baseball Classic semifinal. He went on record saying that he wanted Cuba to beat the USA because he wanted Mexico to defeat Cuba for the championship. Arozarena is Cuban by birth, but defected in 2016.

It was Randy Arozarena's stunning warning track catch against Team Puerto Rico last week that ensured Mexico's spot in Monday's semifinal.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Arozarena streaked to left center to rob Emmanuel Rivera's bid for an RBI double that would have tied the score and left Rivera on second base with only one out.

Instead, the runner, MJ Melendez, had to dash all the way back to first base with two outs. Puerto Rico did not score, and Mexico went on to win the game.

Through an interpreter, Arozarena told Fox Sports 1 after the game:

"That was better than any home run I’ve ever hit in the big leagues. That was better than the home run I hit in the World Series. That catch was the best."

Randy Arozarena, Mexico, face a big hurdle in Japan

Randy Arozarena of Team Mexico hits a single against Team Puerto Rico.

If Mexico is to make Tuesday night's final against the USA, it must first clear a very tall hurdle in two-time World Baseball Classic champion Japan. Japan is undefeated in tournament play, having won Pool B with a 4-0 record. Mexico went 3-1 to win Pool C.