Nobody has a better seat to watch the Seattle Mariners’ dominant starting rotation than catcher Cal Raleigh.

Morosi makes case for Garver as a Seattle Mariners difference-maker in ’25

The 2024 American League Platinum Glove winner gets to experience the uniquely talented rotation from behind the plate on a near daily basis from the start of spring training until the final out of the season. It’s an experience Raleigh relishes.

“It’s not easy, but it’s a lot of fun,” Raleigh said during a conversation with Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk at Mariners camp in Arizona. “… They’re all different in the way that you talk to them, the way you approach them, how they feel on certain things, how they react to certain situations is completely different. And that’s top to bottom, that’s starters all the way down to the relievers.”

One of the five starters Raleigh gets to regularly work with is right-hander Bryan Woo, who broke out in a major way during a stellar second season in the big leagues. Woo posted a 2.84 ERA, 0.898 WHIP and 101 strikeouts to just 13 walks over 121 1/3 innings on his way to a 9-3 record in 22 starts last season.

Woo amassed those numbers while pumping fastballs at a rate that most starters (at least ones as effective as Woo) rarely do, hurling 72% four-seamers and sinkers from his low arm slot with little fear of leaving those pitches over the plate. It resulted in the right-hander having one of the most effective fastball combos in MLB, ranking in the 95th percentile with a plus-17 fastball run value.

“When he locks it in, the hitters when they get to first base, they’re like, ‘That’s different,’” Raleigh said.

M’s pitchers keep adding pitches — and it’s more than a ‘side project’

Brock and Salk co-host Mike Salk asked Raleigh to elaborate on what makes Woo’s fastball so hard to hit. The switch-hitting catcher had some lofty comparison when talking about the type of stuff Woo has on the mound.

“I would look at guys, (for) example, like a (Brandon) Woodruff with Milwaukee, Freddy Peralta with Milwaukee as well, (Philadelphia’s) Zach Wheeler, (Texas’) Jacob DeGrom,” Raleigh said. “I’m not just throwing those names out for you guys. That’s the kind of stuff that he has.”

Batters hit just .213 with a .350 slugging percentage off Woo’s four-seamer and .213 with a .350 slugging percentage on his sinker last season. His fastballs aren’t uniquely overpowering, sitting just above league average with an average velocity of 94.8 mph (62nd percentile). But Woo’s low arm angle (27 degrees) and smooth delivery help add deception.

“It comes out so smooth and it’s so efficient and like easy cheese,” Raleigh said. “You see some guys out there and they’re grunting and they’re throwing hard, but it’s max effort. And you see him and you’re like, ‘Is he even going like 60%?’ And he’s throwing 95 and he’s just blowing it by people. … That deception is killer.”

Hear the full conversation with Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Tune in to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

More on the Seattle Mariners

• Logan Gilbert: How Dan Wilson is putting his stamp on the Mariners
• Mariners’ Bryce Miller gives close look at all of his pitches
• Mariners Notebook: Everybody bunts, a new injury and more
• Gilbert addresses if he would sign an extension with Seattle Mariners
• Why ‘Pitching Ninja’ is big fan of Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh

Follow @ZacHereth