SEATTLE -- In one epic swing on Friday afternoon, Cal Raleigh reached physical territory that few right-handed power hitters have approached at T-Mobile Park, while also reaching statistical territory that remains a marvel for his historic home-run pace. Then, for good measure, he went deep again -- because of course he did.
It’s all shaping up to be one of the all-time great seasons for a catcher, a switch-hitter, a Mariner and more.
Raleigh demolished his 34th home run in the first inning of Seattle’s 6-0 win in the series opener vs. Pittsburgh, ambushing a 3-1 fastball from left-hander Bailey Falter and sending it sailing -- a whopping Statcast-projected 440 feet -- into the third-to-last row of the bleachers well beyond left field. Then in the sixth, Raleigh went for a follow-up with a sky-high shot that, at 381 feet, narrowly cleared the left-center-field fence and bounced into the home bullpen.
With both big swings, Raleigh tied Ken Griffey Jr. in 1998 for the most homers in a season in franchise history before the All-Star break -- while tying then surpassing his previous career best of 34 set last season, when he led all catchers in the category.
“To be mentioned with that name, with somebody who's just iconic, is a legend, is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, I'm just blessed,” Raleigh said. “I'm just trying to do the right thing and trying to keep it rolling. If I can try to be like that guy, it's a good guy to look up to.”
Griffey isn’t on the coaching staff like franchise icons Dan Wilson (manager) and Edgar Martinez (senior director of hitting strategy), but he has been a regular confidante to Raleigh this season.
The two have shared a few phone calls and an in-person visit when the Hall of Famer was in town two weeks ago to celebrate the entry for MLS’ Seattle Sounders -- with whom he has ownership stake -- into the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
“He's pretty much like the face of the franchise, right?” Raleigh said. “Ken Griffey, Ichiro, Felix. You can throw Randy [Johnson], Alvin Davis, Edgar, Dan up there on the Mount Rushmore of Mariners. I mean, not just the Mariners, but all of baseball, right? That iconic swing. And I think, too, is how many injuries the guy had -- so many injuries. If he was healthy, he would have smashed the [all-time] home run record, I think, so it's even more impressive.”
Wilson was on that ‘98 team with Griffey, giving him the unique front-row seat to each of these historical seasons.
“Just being in awe, like you are of Cal,” Wilson said. “You feel like one home run, you're like, 'Oh man, that's super majestic.' And then the next one is maybe even better. And it just continues. And again, I don't think for Cal -- like it was for Junior -- there isn't a ballpark he doesn't feel like he's going to be able to leave. He's just seeing the ball well, and if he gets the barrel to it, it's got a chance.”
Raleigh also extended his MLB lead in homers in 2025, even after second-place Aaron Judge went deep vs. the Mets earlier on Friday.
So emphatic was the first hack that Raleigh halted for a brief stop-and-stare then slightly pinwheeled his bat down the first-base line before beginning his trot. At 115.2 mph off the bat, it was the hardest-hit ball of Raleigh’s career, for any batted ball and from either side of the plate.
His second of the day, on a 1-0, low-and-in heater from Falter, was nearly as dramatic for how long it hung and the palpable anticipation for whether it had enough.
The switch-hitting Raleigh now has 14 homers batting righty -- more than any right-handed Mariners hitter and which also surpassed his previous career high from that side of the plate, also set last year.
Overall, Raleigh is now on pace for 64 homers this season, which would surpass Judge’s American League record of 62 set during his first AL MVP season in 2022. By most measures, this year’s race for that honor is a two-man show so far between Judge and Raleigh, who gained ground on the Yankees slugger in MLB.com’s third and latest poll released earlier this week.
Friday’s big blasts also offered more of a preview for what could be to come in just 10 days in Atlanta, where Raleigh will compete in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby. He was also named the AL’s starting catcher for the Midsummer Classic on Wednesday.
Raleigh did his first practice round for the Derby on Tuesday, with his dad throwing to him as he will at Truist Park, and experienced some admitted fatigue, going 0-for-9 with five strikeouts and a scheduled off-day in Seattle’s three games since -- until Friday.