SEATTLE – Major League Baseball announced today that Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has been selected as the starting catcher for the American League All-Star team. The 95th MLB All-Star Game is set to be played on Tuesday, July 15 at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, in Cumberland, Georgia.
Raleigh, 28, has been selected by the fans to start at catcher. Raleigh, who makes his first career All-Star Game, defeated Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk in Phase 2, or “The Final Round” of All-Star fan voting.
In 84 games played this season, Raleigh leads the Major Leagues with 33 home runs and 71 runs batted in. The Mariners catcher is batting .272 (85x312) with 60 runs, 16 doubles, 33 homers, 71 RBI, 53 walks and 9 stolen bases, getting on base at a .383 clip, slugging .641 (2nd in MLB) with a 1.024 OPS (2nd in MLB).
Cal’s 33 home runs outrank Aaron Judge-NYY (30 HR) and Shohei Ohtani-LAD (30 HR) for most in the Major Leagues, all while 65 of his 84 games this season have been at the catcher position. Raleigh has compiled 5.6 wins above replacement (FanGraphs), on pace for the most all-time by a catcher and 2nd-most in the Majors this year behind only Judge (6.5 fWAR).
Raleigh joins his manager Dan Wilson (1996) as the only Mariners catchers to be named to the Midsummer Classic. Cal is set to become the first Seattle player to start in the All-Star Game since designated hitter Nelson Cruz in 2015.
“Cal getting selected to start the All-Star Game is such a great and well-deserved honor for him,” said Mariners manager Dan Wilson. “Cal embodies exactly what a team player is, someone who makes everyone around him better. His [Cal’s] ability to hit home runs has been incredible, and it’s also been his ability to get on base, his amazing work behind the plate with our pitching staff, and his willingness to always go the extra mile for his teammates.”
Raleigh has hit numerous history-making home runs during the first half of his 2025 campaign, including becoming the first catcher to reach 30 homers before the All-Star Break and also the first switch-hitter to do so. He broke the previous records held by Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Mickey Mantle (among others), respectively. He also became the fifth player in MLB history to reach 33 home runs before the end of June, joining Ken Griffey Jr. (1998), Mark McGwire (1998), Sammy Sosa (1998) and Barry Bonds (2001).
Cal is one home run away from matching his career-high 34 home runs, set during the 2024 season. The Mariners backstop has led his position in homers in 3 consecutive seasons (2022-24) and is on pace to become the first player to lead catchers in homers in 4 consecutive seasons since Hall of Famer Mike Piazza. Raleigh, who has 126 career home runs which are the most by a catcher in franchise history, is 2 homers away from tying Piazza for most through a catcher’s first 5 seasons.
Raleigh is also closing in on Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. (35 HR in 1998) for most home runs by a Mariners player before the All-Star Break.
It was announced on June 27 that Raleigh will participate in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday, July 14 at Truist Park as part of the All-Star festivities, with his father Todd Raleigh set to be Cal’s pitcher.
The full American and National League All-Star Game rosters for the 95th MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park will be announced this Sunday, July 6.