Cal Raleigh

If you like baseball and you've been watching this year you probably know about Cal Raleigh, but if you haven't watched in a couple years you probably have no idea who he is.

Early Childhood:

Caleb John Raleigh, born November 26, 1996, in Cullowhee, North Carolina, grew up in a small-town setting and attended Smoky Mountain High School in nearby Sylva. Despite becoming a multi-sport All-American, Raleigh’s baseball journey began with a setback—he didn’t make the high school team at his first tryout. Undeterred, he kept working, and by his senior year, he was a standout, hitting .469 with 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases, earning All-American honors from Louisville Slugger, MaxPreps, and Under Armour.

Raleigh committed to Florida State University after initially planning to play for Clemson, and as a freshman he hit .301 with a .412 on-base percentage, earning multiple freshman All-American honors. He became known for clutch postseason performances, including game-winning hits in the 2017 ACC championship and Super Regional, and a ninth-inning home run in the College World Series. By his junior year in 2018, he posted a .326/.447/.583 line with 13 homers and 54 RBIs. Drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the third round (90th overall) of the 2018 MLB Draft and signing for $854,000, Raleigh quickly climbed the minors, excelling in Low-A, High-A, and Double-A with strong power numbers, setting the stage for his eventual rise to the majors.

Minor leagues:

After being drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft and signing for $854,000, Cal Raleigh debuted with the Short-Season A Everett AquaSox, where he hit .288 with 8 home runs and 29 RBIs in just 38 games. The following year, he started 2019 with the High-A Modesto Nuts, earning California League All-Star honors before being promoted to the Double-A Arkansas Travelers. Across both levels that season, he posted a .251/.323/.497 slash line with 29 homers and 82 RBIs in 121 games, showcasing his switch-hitting power and strong defense behind the plate.

The canceled 2020 minor league season due to COVID-19 stalled his momentum, but Raleigh stayed ready at the Mariners’ alternate training site. In 2021, he began at Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers and continued to hit for power, earning a midseason call-up to the majors. By the time he left the minors, Raleigh had built a reputation as one of Seattle’s most promising catching prospects—known for his home run power, ability to handle a pitching staff, and leadership on the field.

First years:

Cal Raleigh made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners on July 11, 2021, after a strong start to the season at Triple-A Tacoma. His rookie campaign was a trial by fire—he appeared in 47 games but hit just .180 with 2 home runs and a .542 OPS, struggling to adjust to major league pitching. While his defense and game-calling drew positive reviews, his offensive production underscored the steep learning curve for young catchers in the big leagues.

In 2022, Raleigh began the year back in Tacoma before earning a call-up in late April. Though he initially battled at the plate, he found his rhythm in the summer, becoming one of the most powerful catchers in baseball. He finished the year with a .211 average but a .774 OPS, belting 27 home runs in just 415 plate appearances. His most memorable moment came on September 30, 2022, when he hit a pinch-hit, walk-off home run against the Oakland A’s to clinch the Mariners’ first playoff berth in 21 years—a swing instantly cemented in franchise history. Raleigh’s sophomore season established him as a cornerstone of Seattle’s lineup, pairing elite power with steady defense behind the plate.

In 2023, Raleigh built on his breakout year and cemented his role as one of the league’s top power-hitting catchers. He played in 145 games, slashing .232/.306/.456 with 30 doubles, 30 home runs, and 75 RBIs, becoming the first catcher in Mariners history to hit 30 homers in a season. He also continued to show durability and leadership, catching more innings than any player in the majors that year. Raleigh’s season was highlighted by a two-homer game at Yankee Stadium in September, where he became the first visiting player to homer from both sides of the plate in a single game at the ballpark. Though Seattle narrowly missed the playoffs, Raleigh’s performance solidified him as a cornerstone for the franchise, combining elite power with strong defensive work and the respect of the pitching staff.

Becoming a superstar:

In 2024, Cal Raleigh turned in another elite season for the Seattle Mariners, playing in 153 games and posting a .220/.306/.456 line with 34 home runs, 100 RBIs, 16 doubles, 73 runs scored, and 70 walks over 546 at-bats. He became just the 29th catcher in MLB history to hit 30 or more homers in a season, joining a short list that most recently included Salvador Perez and Mike Zunino in 2021. Behind the plate, Raleigh continued to be a defensive force, leading all major league catchers with 24 runners caught stealing and earning finalist honors for both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.

Raleigh’s impact extended beyond the stat sheet, anchoring the Mariners’ lineup and handling one of baseball’s best pitching staffs. He finished the year with a 5.4 fWAR, ranking among the most valuable catchers in the game, and provided yet another signature moment on October 6 with a walk-off grand slam to close the season. Although Seattle narrowly missed the playoffs, Raleigh’s performance solidified his standing as one of the league’s premier all-around catchers, combining rare power with durability, defensive skill, and leadership. He also on the gold glove for catchers and the platinum one for the AL.

MVP caliber year:

This year Cal has gone crazy and blasted 45 homeruns so far, which leads baseball and he is tied for the second most homeruns for a catcher in a single season all-time. He is on pace for 64 homeruns, which would shatter Salvador Perez's record for most by a catcher (48) and even break Aaron Judges record for most homeruns by a AL player in a single season. Not to mention it would break Ken Griffey Jr.'s record for most homeruns in a single season by a Seattle Mariner. Those are some all-time greats and he is on pace to do better than them. It's not just that, Cal is also playing Gold Glove defense and stealing bags; yes, stealing. When you think of a catcher you think slow, but Cal has 13 bags this year, which means he could have a 20/20 season along with other Mariners: Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozerana, and most likely Josh Naylor. He was the starting catcher for the All-star Game and won the Homerun Derby.

For now its safe to say that Cal Raleigh has a great chance of winning MVP.