Cal Raleigh is proving to be more human than his 2025 stats suggested
· Yahoo Sports
Cal Raleigh is proving to be more human than his 2025 stats suggested originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Visit raccoongame.org for more information.
Baseball fans were treated to a special 2025 season from Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. He was the AL MVP runner-up after finishing with 60 home runs, shattering the single-season record for home runs by a catcher and most by a switch-hitter.
He was an All-Star, won the Home Run Derby, and earned his first Silver Slugger Award. However, things are a bit different this season.
At this point last year, he already had six home runs under his belt, but going into Wednesday's matchup, he only has one long ball, and the fans are starting to worry.
MORE: Mariners send Victor Robles to 10-day IL amid roster moves
Cal Raleigh is proving to be more human than his 2025 stats suggested
There was some bad luck on Raleigh's part, and he should have had two home runs at this point, but he made the mistake of hitting a ball Jo Adell's way on Saturday when he miraculously robbed three home runs in a single game.
Raleigh's first home run would come on Monday, and it was not against a scrub. The Mariners faced off against the Texas Rangers, and he took Jacob deGrom deep, blasting a 99 mph fastball.
More home runs are certainly to come, but according to Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer, fans should lower their expectations a bit.
"Shades of his 2025 self have started to appear recently, as he homered off 99 mph Jacob deGrom on Monday and was notably robbed of what should have been his first homer by Jo Adell on Saturday. Even so, expectations for Raleigh should be adjusted downward."
To be fair, Raleigh had an exceptional season last year, and it's hard to ask him to do the same. But, fans can understandably start to worry with just one home run through nearly four series.
But they should be more concerned with Josh Naylor and Julio Rodriguez. Neither slugger has a home run to their name yet, while hitting well below .150.
More MLB news:
- Giants still waiting for their talented roster to start clicking
- Elite run prevention is keeping the Reds alive early this season
- Marlins are finally finding the power to match their elite pitching
- Low expectations aren't stopping the Cardinals from competing early
- Rays' bullpen woes could lead to the loss of a fan favorite player