The Rise of Cal Raleigh: A Catcher on Fire Powers Seattle to Another Big Win
Cal Raleigh’s bat continues to scream louder than ever, and on Monday night in Minneapolis, the noise was deafening.
In a game that was already well in hand, Raleigh didn’t ease up. With one powerful swing in the ninth inning, he smashed a two-run homer deep into the Minnesota sky — his 32nd of the season — as the Seattle Mariners rolled to a commanding 11-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
It was the kind of performance that’s quickly becoming a routine headline for the 28-year-old catcher, who is playing the best baseball of his life and is firmly establishing himself as one of the game’s most dangerous hitters.
Another Day, Another Bomb
Raleigh’s home run, his fourth in as many games, came off Twins reliever Joey Wentz. Wentz left a changeup hanging high in the zone, and Raleigh made him pay — launching it to left field with ease. The swing was effortless, but the result was thunderous.
“I’m just trying to keep it simple right now,” Raleigh said postgame. “I’m seeing the ball well, trying not to do too much, and staying within myself.”
That focus is paying off in a huge way. Raleigh leads the majors with 32 homers, putting him on a historic pace for a catcher — and for a Mariner.
Dominating from Behind the Plate
Seattle manager Dan Wilson, himself a former big-league catcher, couldn’t help but smile when asked about Raleigh’s current form.
“He’s just in a really good place mentally and physically,” Wilson said. “He’s locked in. He’s seeing pitches early, recognizing them quickly, and when he gets a mistake, he doesn’t let it go by. That’s the sign of a hitter who’s feeling it.”
Raleigh was named the American League Player of the Week after a sizzling six-game stretch last week where he batted .417, hit five homers, and drove in 12 runs. Much of that damage came during a series at Wrigley Field against the Cubs, where Raleigh launched four homers in three games.
But if that was impressive, Monday’s follow-up was even more meaningful: it showed he’s not cooling down. He’s heating up.
Numbers That Tell the Story
Over his last 30 games, Raleigh has posted jaw-dropping numbers. He’s hitting .331 (39-for-118), with 17 home runs and 36 RBIs in that span alone. His season totals are equally eye-popping: a .278 batting average, 68 RBIs, and a 1.048 OPS.
For a catcher — a position traditionally viewed as defense-first — those numbers are elite. And they’re putting him in rare air historically, especially for the Mariners.
Raleigh is now just three home runs shy of tying Ken Griffey Jr. for the most home runs by a Mariner before the All-Star break. That sentence alone is enough to give any Seattle fan chills.
“You talk about Griffey and the legends of this franchise, and to be in that conversation — I mean, that’s surreal,” Raleigh said. “But I’m not chasing anything. I’m just trying to help this team win games.”
The Quiet Leader
While much of the attention in the AL this season has gone to big names like Aaron Judge, Yordan Alvarez, and Shohei Ohtani, Raleigh has quietly been putting together an MVP-caliber campaign.
He isn’t flashy. He doesn’t crave the spotlight. But ask his teammates, and they’ll tell you — he’s the heart of this Mariners squad.
“He shows up, works his tail off, and never complains,” pitcher Bryan Woo said. “And now you’re seeing the results. Honestly, if I had to face him right now? I’d walk him every time.”
Woo, who earned the win Monday with a dominant six-inning, nine-strikeout performance, wasn’t joking.
“I’d put up four fingers and let him take his base,” Woo laughed. “Seriously. He’s that dangerous.”
A Complete Team Effort
While Raleigh stole the show with his late-inning bomb, the Mariners’ offense as a whole clicked from the start. Seattle put up runs in bunches, scoring in the third, fourth, and fifth innings to break things open.
Julio Rodríguez, J.P. Crawford, and Ty France all had multi-hit nights, with the top of the order setting the tone early. The Mariners knocked Twins starter Bailey Ober out of the game before he could finish the fifth inning.
Meanwhile, Woo continued his quietly impressive 2025 campaign. The young right-hander has now gone at least six innings in all 15 of his starts this season and lowered his ERA to 3.12 with Monday’s outing. He’s quickly becoming a model of consistency in a Mariners rotation that has been rock-solid all year.
A Team with October Dreams
With the win, Seattle improved to 47-31 and remained in firm control of the AL West. As the calendar inches closer to July, the Mariners are positioning themselves not just for a playoff spot — but for a deep postseason run.
And with a lineup anchored by a slugging catcher, a rotation full of arms like Woo and Logan Gilbert, and a bullpen that’s held firm all year, the pieces are falling into place.
“We’ve got a really good thing going right now,” Wilson said. “But nobody’s satisfied. We’re hungry.”
The Power of Patience and Progress
Raleigh wasn’t always a sure thing. A few years ago, he was just another young catcher trying to prove he could handle big-league pitching. His swing had power but holes. His defense was promising, but raw.
Now? He’s a polished star. And while the numbers are staggering, it’s his steadiness that stands out the most. Whether he goes 3-for-4 or 0-for-4, his approach doesn’t change.
“Baseball’s a game of failure,” Raleigh said. “You’ve got to stay even-keeled. That’s the hardest part, but it’s also the most important.”
That maturity, paired with his powerful bat and improving defense, has transformed him into a franchise cornerstone. The Mariners knew what they had — which is why they locked him up with a six-year, $105 million extension this spring. That deal is already looking like a bargain.
Looking Ahead
With the All-Star break just a few weeks away, Raleigh is surging at the right time. He’s likely to be named the starting catcher for the American League, and it’s not even a debate at this point.
He currently leads all AL catchers — and frankly, most position players — in nearly every offensive category. He’s also winning over voters and fans with every monster swing.
If he keeps this pace, the conversation may shift from “All-Star” to “MVP.”
And don’t expect Raleigh to let up. If anything, he’s still building steam.
“We’re in a good spot,” he said. “But I think we can get even better.”
Source: Cal Raleigh hits 32nd home run in Seattle Mariners’ 11-2 win
Final Thoughts
Cal Raleigh is no longer just a solid catcher with some pop. He’s becoming one of the most feared hitters in baseball — and the undisputed engine of a Mariners team with October dreams.
Whether it’s his bat, his leadership, or his composure, Raleigh is showing that he’s not just having a hot streak. He’s arriving. And he might be here to stay — for a long, long time.