Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh became the first switch-hitter in Major League Baseball history to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star Break, launching a solo shot off Chicago Cubs reliever Daniel Palencia in the top of the ninth inning during a 10-7 loss at Wrigley Field on Saturday.
Cal Raleigh has his THIRD consecutive 30-HR season!
It's June 21st 🤯 pic.twitter.com/WGpZLvoFlv
— MLB (@MLB) June 21, 2025
Raleigh also broke the record for most home runs by a catcher before the break, surpassing Hall of Famer Johnny Bench’s 1970 mark. Raleigh reached the milestone in 87 games.
He passed Bench’s total on June 20 with two home runs against the Cubs—one in the first inning off starter Matthew Boyd and another in the seventh off reliever Caleb Thielbar.
Raleigh becomes just the fourth catcher in MLB history with multiple 30-homer seasons, joining Hall of Famers Mike Piazza (nine times), Bench (four), and Roy Campanella.
Within the Mariners franchise, only Ken Griffey Jr. has hit more before the break—35 in 1998, 33 in 1994, 30 in 1997, and 29 in 1999.
Barry Bonds holds the all-time pre-All-Star break record with 39 home runs for the San Francisco Giants in 2001.
Raleigh, 28, was born in Cullowhee, North Carolina, and was selected by the Mariners in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft after playing at Florida State. He signed for $854,000 and debuted on July 11, 2021, against the Los Angeles Angels.
In 2025, Raleigh has played 74 games, posting a 4.1 WAR in 324 plate appearances. He’s batting .272 with 75 hits, 14 doubles, 64 RBI (leading the American League), nine stolen bases, 43 walks, 82 strikeouts, and a 1.025 OPS.
Behind the plate this year, Raleigh has played in 58 games and started in 57, catching 513 innings with 498 chances, 481 putouts, 15 assists, two errors, two double plays, a .996 fielding percentage, no passed balls, and 20 wild pitches. He has allowed 43 stolen bases and caught 10 runners (18.9%).
Raleigh last season won his first Gold Glove Award and Platinum Glove Award, while catching in 135 games and 125 starts, with 1,122 innings, 1,195 chances, 1,138 putouts, 51 assists, six errors, eight double plays, a .995 fielding percentage, five passed balls, and 81 stolen bases allowed. He threw out 32 runners, resulting in a 28% caught stealing rate.
He played in 153 games in the 2024 season and batted .220 across 628 plate appearances, collecting 120 hits, 16 doubles, 34 home runs, 100 RBI, six stolen bases, 70 walks, 176 strikeouts, and a .748 OPS.
In Raleigh’s five seasons with the Mariners, he has posted a 15.5 WAR while playing in 538 games, hitting .272 with 417 hits, 85 doubles, two triples, 123 home runs, 315 RBI, 16 stolen bases, 212 walks, 590 strikeouts, and a .783 OPS.
USA manager Mark DeRosa will keep close tabs on Raleigh to be on his roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic next March, assuming the Mariners front office gives the green light for him to play during the Cactus League.
The United States will face Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, and Brazil in Pool B from March 6-11 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.
