The 2025 home run derby champion and current Major League Baseball home run leader Cal Raleigh has taken the game of baseball by storm.
Prior to his MLB career, Raleigh spent three seasons playing college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles from 2016-2018.
Early Florida State Career – During his freshman season in 2016, Raleigh had 20 multi-hit games and finished second on the team in home runs with 10.
That same season, he was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman team and was named a freshman All-American by Perfect Game, Baseball America, and the National College Baseball Writers Association.
During his sophomore season in 2017, Raleigh helped lead the Seminoles to the College World Series. It was Florida State’s first appearance in Omaha in five years.
He was also the only player on Florida State to start in every game that season.
The Seminoles’ Top Slugger in 2018 – During his junior season in 2018, Raleigh led Florida State in hitting with a .326 batting average, 18 doubles, and 13 home runs.
He helped lead the Seminoles to the ACC Tournament title that season, which made it back-to-back years Florida State won the conference tournament.
Raleigh was the Most Valuable Player of the 2018 ACC Tournament.
The accolades did not stop there for the Florida State catcher. He received third-team All-American nominations from the American Baseball Coaches Association, D1 Baseball, Baseball America, and Perfect Game.
He was also first-team All-ACC his junior season.
MLB Draft Selection and Debut with Seattle Mariners – In the 2018 MLB Draft, Raleigh was selected with the 90th overall pick in the third round by the Seattle Mariners.
He made his debut for the Mariners on July 11, 2021, against the Los Angeles Angels.
He was named an All-Star for the first time this season and won a Gold Glove award in 2024.
Photo: LSU shortstop Kramer Robertson, right, scores at home plate on a single by Antoine Duplantis, as Florida State catcher Cal Raleigh attempts to tag him, in the ninth inning of an NCAA College World Series baseball game in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, June 21, 2017. LSU won 7-4, sending Florida State home. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
