Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is in the midst of a historic 2025 Major League Baseball season, showcasing unparalleled power and earning his first career All-Star selection. His remarkable performance has culminated in a highly anticipated appearance at the 2025 Home Run Derby in Atlanta, where he is proving to be a formidable slugger.
Raleigh’s 2025 campaign has been nothing short of spectacular. As of July 14, he leads the American League with an impressive 38 home runs and 82 RBIs, boasting a .259 batting average and a stellar 1.010 OPS, which ranks second in the AL. His power surge has shattered numerous records throughout the season. On May 30, Raleigh became the first catcher in MLB history to hit 20 home runs before the end of May. Just a week later, on June 7, he was the first player across the league to reach the 25-homer mark. His record-breaking pace continued as he surpassed Hall of Famer Johnny Bench for the most home runs by a primary catcher before the All-Star break, hitting his 29th on June 20. The very next day, Raleigh became the first player in 2025 to reach 30 home runs, and the first catcher and switch-hitter in MLB history to achieve this milestone before the All-Star break. By July 11, with 38 homers, he set a new AL record for most home runs before the All-Star break, putting him just one shy of Barry Bonds’ all-time MLB record of 39 set in 2001. (MLB.com, Baseball-Reference.com, Wikipedia)
His exceptional performance has not gone unnoticed, earning him the American League Player of the Month award for June, where he slashed .300/.398/.690 with 11 homers and 27 RBIs. He also received two AL Player of the Week honors in June. Earlier in the season, on April 11, Raleigh became the Mariners’ franchise home run leader among catchers, and on April 16, he hit his 100th career home run, becoming the fourth-fastest catcher to reach that milestone in just 482 games. Furthermore, he set a new Mariners franchise record for stolen bases by a catcher, with 8 by June 17. (Wikipedia)
Raleigh’s participation in the 2025 Home Run Derby, held on Monday, July 14, at Truist Park in Atlanta, was a highlight of the All-Star festivities. He entered the competition leading all participants with his 38 season home runs. In a personal touch, his father, Todd Raleigh, a former college baseball coach, pitched to him, with his younger brother, Todd Jr., serving as the catcher. Raleigh advanced past Brent Rooker in the first round, hitting 17 home runs, including a massive 471-foot blast. (Yahoo Sports, MLB.com)
This season’s success builds on a remarkable 2024 campaign for the 28-year-old switch-hitter. In 2024, Raleigh led MLB catchers in home runs for the third consecutive season with 34. He also became the first catcher in Mariners history to record 100 RBIs in a single season. His defensive prowess was recognized with both the Rawlings Gold Glove Award and the American League Platinum Glove Award, making him the first Mariners player ever to win the latter. He also led MLB catchers in caught stealing for the second straight year. (MLB.com, Wikipedia)
Drafted by the Mariners in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft, Raleigh made his MLB debut on July 11, 2021. His consistent improvement and record-setting achievements underscore his status as one of baseball’s elite power threats and all-around catchers. His recent six-year, $105 million contract extension, signed on March 25, 2025, further solidifies his long-term commitment to the Mariners and his pivotal role in the team’s future. (Baseball-Reference.com, Wikipedia)
