Raleigh's Record-Breaking Season
Cal Raleigh, the Seattle Mariners' talented catcher, has surpassed Mickey Mantle's long-standing single-season record for home runs by a switch-hitter, further cementing his place in MLB history. Following a thrilling 12-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday, Raleigh expressed his gratitude for the milestone, stating, "It's really cool. I'm humbled by it. A crazy kind of thing I never thought would happen." As he continues to take the season day-by-day, Raleigh's focus remains on enjoying each moment with his teammates.
Historic Numbers and MVP Race
On Tuesday night, Raleigh hit two home runs, bringing his season total to 56, thus surpassing Mantle’s 54 homers set in 1961. In doing so, he joined Ken Griffey Jr. as the only players in Mariners history to record 56 home runs in a single season. Griffey similarly reached that number in consecutive years, 1997 and 1998, the latter coinciding with his AL MVP award.
The competition for the AL MVP award is shaping up to be a tight race, particularly between Raleigh and reigning MVP Aaron Judge. With only 11 games left in the regular season, Judge currently leads the league in key offensive metrics, including batting average (.326), on-base percentage (.451), and slugging percentage (.676). Advanced metrics show Raleigh closely trailing him, with 8.4 FanGraphs wins above replacement (WAR) compared to Judge's 8.8.
Mariners Surge Towards Playoffs
As the Mariners ride a remarkable 10-game winning streak, they find themselves in a prime position, leading the AL West by one game over the Houston Astros. While the New York Yankees hold a better overall record (84-67) than Seattle (83-68), both teams are well-positioned for playoff contention.
No matter the outcome of the MVP voting, Raleigh's achievements in 2025 will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the finest seasons for a catcher and switch-hitter in the annals of baseball history.
