Cal Raleigh’s impressive season reached another high point when he smashed his 40th home run into the right field bleachers at Angel Stadium. This achievement places Raleigh as the seventh catcher in major league history to accomplish such a feat. The Seattle Mariners star had been on a remarkable run since the All-Star break, where he notched 38 homers and won the Home Run Derby. His 40th home run was particularly significant because it broke a tie and led the Mariners to a crucial 7-2 victory in their playoff pursuit. Raleigh expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s a cool milestone to hit, and I’m very thankful for it, and it’s a cool moment for sure.”
As the first player in the majors to reach 40 home runs this season, Raleigh achieved this milestone before the end of July. He launched a 2-0 fastball from Angels reliever Jose Fermin, sending it 416 feet with a 113.5-mph exit velocity. This home run put the Mariners ahead 3-2, and they went on to score three more runs in the inning, securing their second win in three games in Anaheim. Seattle manager Dan Wilson commented, “I’m sure it feels great to get to 40… The season, the numbers that he’s put up is pretty staggering.”
Raleigh was the Mariners’ designated hitter in this game, joining an elite group of hitters who primarily played catcher during their 40-homer seasons. Legends like Johnny Bench and Mike Piazza achieved this milestone twice, and others like Roy Campanella, Todd Hundley, and Javy Lopez have also done it. In 2021, Salvador Perez set the single-season record for catchers with 48 homers, a mark Raleigh could potentially surpass.
Within Mariners history, Raleigh is only the fifth player to reach 40 home runs, joining the ranks of Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Nelson Cruz, and Jay Buhner. Reflecting on this achievement, Raleigh shared, “They’re really good players… very honored to be a part of that group.” Raleigh tied Griffey’s record for the most homers in Seattle through 105 games of a season and became just the eighth player in major league history to hit 40 within that span.
Interestingly, Raleigh’s AL MVP candidacy received an indirect boost when front-runner Aaron Judge went on the 10-day injured list with a flexor strain. Although Judge’s absence isn’t expected to be long, it opened the door for Raleigh’s continued impact on the field. Despite a slowdown in July, where Raleigh was batting just .162, six of his 11 hits were home runs.
On Saturday night, Raleigh had two hits and three strikeouts, but Wilson noticed improvements in his approach at the plate. “I think for the most part, it’s an adjustment period,” Wilson remarked. “But I think he’s just been very consistent pretty much all this season.” Raleigh’s consistency and ability to raise his batting average have been notable throughout the year.
