Cal Raleigh for MVP? After HR No. 32, his teammates aren't shy to say it

MINNEAPOLIS -- Bryan Woo is running out of superlatives for Cal Raleigh and the historic home run pace for the Mariners catcher, while Julio Rodríguez said that hitting in front of him during this stretch has shifted his approach to being the best possible setup man.

Those two were in line to become the headliners in the Mariners’ 11-2 win over the Twins at Target Field, with Woo carving his way to a career-high-tying nine strikeouts and Rodríguez crushing a 442-foot homer as part of a four-RBI night.

But it was Raleigh -- again -- who stole the show in the very final moments, blasting a two-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth inning of a game that had been decided way earlier.

“I think he just definitely deserves his first shot at the MVP,” Rodríguez said of Raleigh, who went deep in his fourth straight game, the first such stretch of his career.

Seattle’s center fielder echoed the chants that rained down on Raleigh as he rounded the bases in Minnesota, just as they did in front of a packed house all weekend at Wrigley Field, where Raleigh set historic high marks for home runs before the All-Star break by both a catcher and switch-hitter in separate games.

Monday’s deep fly was his 32nd, extending his MLB lead and putting him on pace for 67 this season, which would surpass the American League record set by Aaron Judge in 2022. And at least for now, Judge is the only clear candidate in Raleigh’s path from pulling away in the AL MVP race.

“The way that he's just doing it, I think deserves to be looked at,” Rodríguez said of Raleigh. “Because what he's doing as a catcher is pretty special, in the way that he can impact the game, and truly both sides of the ball. I just don't think there's anybody doing that right now.”

Raleigh has coincidentally had some of his biggest moments in a season full of them while Woo has been on the mound, his roommate from a year ago and with whom he’s developed strong chemistry with.

So, in an effort to find a new way to ask about his catcher, Woo was questioned how he’d pitch to Raleigh if he were on the other side.

“I’d put up four fingers and let him take first base,” Woo said. “Yeah, I’m not pitching to him. I've said it over and over, I keep looking at our coaches like, 'I don't know why they don't just put up four and let him be on first.' It's like, you almost expect it at this point.”

The Twins knew they’d have their hands full with Raleigh this week, with manager Rocco Baldelli suggesting pregame that it was already a topic of discussion between him and pitching coach Pete Maki.

They might eventually exercise Woo’s suggestion and intentionally walk Raleigh. But they weren’t at that point in Monday’s matchup, with a seven-run deficit and on their way to their 12th loss in their past 15 games.

“You normally don't go into any series thinking, ‘We've got to slow down Cal Raleigh,’” Baldelli said pregame. “The only guy I can remember thinking like that at different points has been Judge. ... Probably one of the more impressive first halves you'll ever see in this game.”

Regardless if they do so, Rodríguez should continue to get pitches to hit. He’s already noticed a difference in the two weeks since Raleigh was moved up from the cleanup spot to behind him at No. 3.

“It could be a walk. It could be a base hit -- like whatever it is -- just get on,” Rodríguez said, “because the way that he's swinging the bat, he can definitely create problems.”

Rodríguez, too, could create even more problems for opposing pitchers if he continues to find the stroke he displayed on Monday when digging out a changeup from righty Bailey Ober for his second-deck shot in the second inning.

It was the first time he’d cleared the fence since May 27. He ripped another changeup off lefty Joey Wentz for a two-run double in the at-bat before Raleigh’s big blast.

“During the season, you're going to face some tough times,” Rodríguez said. “I feel like that's when you've got to double down on yourself and you believe that it's going to turn. And I feel like that's what we've been working on.”

Rodríguez has long been considered the Mariners’ most obvious player who could eventually become an MVP contender, and he very well could be at some point. But he also recognizes that right now, his strengths -- and the team’s -- are by being a vessel alongside their current MVP candidate.