Seattle, WA
Seattle Mariners: Cal Raleigh's old school spring approach
Monday in Mesa against the A’s, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hit his second home run of the spring.
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A majestic moonshot to right, it was a no-doubter. It was also perhaps the reward for a half day off not taken the previous day.
Cal crushed it 💥 pic.twitter.com/LOTe8Ss15f
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 17, 2025
On Sunday, the Mariners played a game in Goodyear against the Reds, and Raleigh was not on the travel roster. On such days, players staying back in Peoria will still have work to do be it in the weight room, the batting cages or bullpens. But for most, their “work” will finish well before the work of those who traveled.
That was not the case for Raleigh on Sunday, however.
Cal Raleigh just walked in from Field 2 in Peoria in full uniform. Thought he would be long gone since he wasn’t on the away game roster. Nope. Wanted to get some extra at bats. Got six of them in 2 minor league games.
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) March 16, 2025
It was a surprising sight to see Raleigh come in from a back field in full uniform, hours after the bus for the away game departed the complex, carrying a full equipment bag, his jersey sweat soaked. When asked what he had been doing, he answered, “Just having some fun.” When pressed further, he said he got six at-bats in two minor league games.
They are extra at-bats that are always available but often not taken in this day and age, but Raleigh went old school, doing something Edgar Martinez often did, taking at-bats in the multiple minor league games that take place on the organizational home days. For Raleigh, it wasn’t enough that he already led the team in plate appearances this spring. He felt he could benefit from more.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson, who has worked with Raleigh since shortly after he was selected in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft by Seattle, was not surprised.
“He’s a consummate worker as he’s always been,” Wilson said. “I think the thing that’s most impressive is that he is a guy that will continue to push. He’s going to continue to push himself, to get better and continue to go from here. That’s pretty, pretty special on a player, and you know that’s what we’ve seen from Cal ever since he was signed in ’18.”
Wilson noted that with the workload Raleigh carries and the responsibility he takes on, there have been times they have to hold him back instead of pushing him. There is no question Raleigh goes above and beyond, but he has demonstrated he can handle everything that is thrown at him and more. How he does it, that’s a tougher question.
“I don’t know,” Wilson said. “I think the ballpark is his big priority. That’s where his focus is. And he’s done a really good job with a lot of outside stuff. When you have an accolade like a Platinum Glove, you’re going to have that. He’s a guy who cares. He understands what it means to be a professional baseball player and he wants to use that in a positive direction.”
One of Wilson’s aims this spring has been get his regulars more at-bats than they normally get before the season begins, and that has been done mostly in games and live batting practices. Better the hitters lock in and get that feel before the season begins than in the first few weeks.
“I think he’s ready,” Wilson said. “Here’s a guy, he catches a lot as we know and he loves to get his work in. I think there’s an element of feeling confident that you’ve put the work in and I think he’s at that point where he’s getting ready to go.”
Notes
• The Mariners dropped their game 8-7 to the A’s in Mesa, but there were plenty of positives beyond the Raleigh home run.
Luke Raley who was originally in the lineup at first base but moved to center field when an under-the-weather Julio Rodríguez was scratched from the lineup, made a spectacular leaping catch at the wall and went 2 for 3 at the plate with two doubles.
“I’m just trying to feel locked in at the plate and just get reps everywhere I can,” Raley said. “I feel pretty good. I think there is still some room to grow, getting the timing right, but the swing feels really good.”
Jorge Polanco got a number of opportunities at third base, including a ball he had to run in on and one that forced him to make a throw from the bag. He looked good on both plays.
• The Mariners are back at home Tuesday where they will host the Brewers. Bryan Woo to make the start with Andrés Muñoz, Trent Thornton, Tayler Saucedo, Carlos Vargas and Casey Legumina scheduled to follow on the mound.
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It’s been a fruitful offseason for a couple of former USC Trojans as they made waves with the contracts they signed during NFL free agency. The former Trojans have earned themselves big paydays after producing at a high level in the NFL and have been considered some of the best signings made across of all the league.
This offseason, however, the biggest free agent story was the signing of former USC quarterback Sam Darnold. After Darnold had a career resurgence with the Minnesota Vikings, he was one of the most sought after free agents. Eventually, Darnold signed a three-year deal worth $100.5 million
Interestingly enough, Seth Walder of ESPN gave two former Trojans the same free agency signing grade for Denver Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
Walder gave both players a B- grade, but he said Hufanga’s grade might have been even higher if not for injury concerns. Hufanga will get at least $20 million guaranteed heading his way on three-year deal worth $45 million.
“On the fun scale, this signing is an A. But I can’t help but think that the Broncos paid a market rate for a player who should have been more of a buy-low signing…that said, one can imagine this really working out and I have to think that upside (which kept my grade as high as it did) was awfully tempting for Denver,” Walder said.
One of the top quarterbacks on the market, Sam Darnold cashed in after a big season in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings and signed with the Seattle Seahawks for a three-year deal that guarantees the California native $55 million.
However, despite giving Darnold a B- grade as well, Walder was more bullish on his signing with Seattle.
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“The optimistic view is that the Seahawks landed Darnold for less than the Buccaneers paid to sign Baker Mayfield and quite a bit less than the Saints paid to sign Derek Carr for in 2023…that $55 million guarantee is a lot less than, say, Daniel Jones received with the Giants two years ago, and the contract is cheaper overall than I was expecting,” Walder said.
The Trojans are not done yet getting paid in free agency. One of the true active legends in the NFL, offensive tackle Tyron Smith is returning to the league for his 15th season.
Matt Bowen of ESPN said that Smith ranks as one of the top remaining free agents that are unsigned, listing him as the No. 27 player left on the market.
“Smith appeared in only 10 games last season, and his level of play is starting to diminish. The 6-5, 320-pound tackle had an 83.0% pass block win rate in 2024, which was below league average. There are still Hall of Fame flashes from the veteran, though, and he could get another one-year deal this offseason,” Bowen said.
Despite being on the older side, turnining 35 in December of this year, Smith should still find work due to a diminshing market for offensive lineman in free agency.
This story was updated to add new information.
March Madness is coming to Seattle.
Climate Pledge Arena will host first and second round men’s NCAA Tournament games on Friday, March 21 and Sunday, March 23.
Tickets are already available for all six March Madness games in Seattle, including the nearby Oregon Ducks.
Here’s everything you need to know in order to buy your tickets to March Madness Round of 64 and Round of 32 action at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
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Seattle Regional 2025 March Madness teams
Here are the eight teams playing in the Seattle Regional of the 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament
- No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 13 Akron
- No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Grand Canyon
- No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 Liberty
- No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 12 Colorado State
Seattle Regional 2025 March Madness schedule
- 2 p.m. – No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 12 Colorado State
- 4:35 p.m. – No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Grand Canyon
- 7:35 p.m. – No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 13 Akron
- 10:10 p.m. – No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 Liberty
Round of 32 games will be played in Seattle on Sunday, March 23.
Cheapest March Madness Seattle tickets
As of publication, the cheapest available ticket to see all the games in Seattle costs $323.
Shop all Seattle NCAA Tournament tickets
Can your picks survive March Madness? Join our Survivor Pool to find out
Recommendations are independently chosen by our editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
Seattle – Another round of scattered showers to close out our weekend. Lowland rain will ramp up overnight Saturday with showers lingering into Sunday. Overall, Sunday will be more dry than wet, but there will be enough instability that we may see some more isolated storms with lightning, small hail and brief downpours of rain.
Another round of light rain for much of Puget Sound overnight with more mountain snow through Sunday.
Snow levels will remain low, around 2000′ on Sunday. This late-season winter storm will bring another round of mountain snow tomorrow. The Winter Storm Warning will expire at 11am with totals by the end of the weekend around a foot of snow.
Another 4-8″ of snow will be possible throughout the day on Sunday.
Afternoon highs will again be unseasonably cool on Sunday with temperatures topping out in the upper 40’s. Be sure to dress in layers, keeping your rain gear handy.
Afternoon high temperatures will be in the upper 40s and low 50s on Sunday.
More rain and snow to wrap up the weekend. A few spotty showers are possible as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. We’ll see a break in the rain by the middle of next week with highs back closer to normal.
More rain and snow to wrap up the weekend. We’ll see a break in the rain by the middle of next week with highs back near normal. (FOX13 Seattle)
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