Cal Raleigh Just Joined Some of the Best Players in Seattle Mariners History with Latest Homer

The Seattle Mariners moved to 25-19 on the season with a big 4-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night at Petco Park.

Tied 1-1 in the top of the seventh inning, Mariners’ catcher Cal Raleigh continued the great start to his year, hitting his 15th home run. The solo blast gave the M’s a 2-1 lead before they added on in the ninth courtesy of a two-run single by Dylan Moore.

For Raleigh, the home run put him on an exclusive list with some of the best players in franchise history.

Per @MarinersPR on social media:

List of @Mariners to reach 15+ home runs in 44-or-fewer games:

Cal Raleigh (2025)
Nelson Cruz (2015)
Edgar Martinez (2000)
Alex Rodriguez 2x (1998, 2000)
Ken Griffey Jr. 4x (1994, ’97-’99)
Jay Buhner (1996)

The 28-year-old has taken another step forward offensively this year, raising his batting average to .253 and his on-base percentage to .379. Those are significantly higher than his career norms of .221/.304. He also has 31 RBIs this year to go along with five steals.

Add that to his work behind the plate, where he won the Gold Glove last year, and Raleigh is one of the most valuable players in baseball. ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney recently told our own Refuse to Lose podcast that Raleigh is an early season MVP candidate.

From May 8:

But ​all ​kidding ​aside, ​you ​know, ​early ​in the ​week ​on ​the ​podcast ​that ​I ​do, ​I ​had ​Paul ​Hembekides, ​a ​great ​researcher ​at ​ESPN ​and a huge ​baseball ​guy, and ​we ​independently, ​I ​texted ​him ​ahead ​of ​time ​and ​I ​said, ​’okay, ​tell ​me ​you’re ​1, ​2 ​and ​3 ​in ​the ​American ​League.’ ​And ​we ​both ​landed ​on ​Cal ​Raleigh ​being ​number ​two ​behind ​Aaron ​Judge, ​based ​on ​the ​fact ​that, ​you ​know, ​with ​the ​power ​and ​the ​way ​that ​he ​leads ​the ​pitching ​staff ​and ​the ​fact ​that ​the ​Mariners ​have ​done ​well. He ​gets ​on ​base. ​I mean, ​he ​checks ​every ​box.

The Mariners will take on the Padres again on Sunday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. PT.

NEW PODCAST IS OUT! Brady is back for another episode of “Refuse to Lose,” talking about the Mariners’ recent slide and some of the criticism coming Dan Wilson’s way. Should the Mariners have used Andres Munoz in the eighth inning against the Yankees? Should they have intentionally walked Aaron Judge on Wednesday? And what’s the issue with the bullpen? Brady also raises a question about Logan Gilbert’s impending return and catches up with Tacoma Rainiers standout Samad Taylor for an enlightening conversation. CLICK HERE:

BIG QUESTION FOR GILBERT: Logan Gilbert is working his way back from a Grade 1 flexor strain, but when he comes back, will he be able to use his splitter? CLICK HERE:

CRITICIZING DAN? We spoke to ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney about some of the criticism that manager Dan Wilson has gotten for Seattle in the early going this year. CLICK HERE:

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @RefuseToLosePod. You can subscribe to the “Refuse to Lose” podcast by clicking HERE.