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.
Seattle Sports, Seattle Mariners announce multi-year radio extension
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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The Seattle Mariners have been staring down a difficult decision for weeks now and it’s only getting closer as Bryce Miller nears the end of his rehab assignment.
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When Miller makes his return to the big league club, which is now less than two weeks away barring a setback, the Mariners will have six capable starters but only five rotation spots.
The assumption when Miller started the season on the injured list was that he would replace Emerson Hancock when he returned, but Hancock has been Seattle’s best starter thus far, posting a 2.59 ERA over seven starts while striking out batters at a career-best 28.9% clip.
Now it looks as if veteran Luis Castillo could be the top candidate to taken out of the rotation. In seven starts this season, the right-hander has produced a 6.29 ERA and minus-0.8 bWAR.
ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan weighed in on the possibility of Castillo being taken out of the starting rotation when he joined Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Tuesday.
“I think it all depends on where Luis Castillo’s frame of mind is,” Passan said. “If Luis Castillo is open to going to the bullpen, you consider that. And if he is not, then you take a look and see what his willingness to go on the injured list is. And if that’s not the case, then maybe you do consider a six-man rotation. I think there are just lots of different possibilities here.”
For Passan, what Castillo has done for the organization, which includes helping the team reach the playoffs twice, is also an important part of the equation.
“I think what also factors in is Luis Castillo has done this for a really long time at a really high level and been a really important part of the success that you’ve had organizationally, and I don’t take that lightly,” Passan said. “I think the way that you treat people who have done right by you and helped you get into the position (you’re in), they’re not disposable. So you can’t just say to Luis Castillo, you’re not performing right now, you’re going to the pen.
“Well, you could. I just don’t know how well that goes over and I don’t know what sort of precedent that sets for treatment of players going forward.”
Passan added that moving Castillo to the bullpen is the type of “cold” decision a contender has to make sometimes, but that having a productive Castillo is also key for the team.
“Having a productive Luis Castillo makes them much likelier to be a World Series team,” Passan said. “You can get rid of your manager and survive that. But knowing that Castillo has to be around still, you just need to be mindful of the way – not even the way that you’re treating him, because the way that you’re treating him is through your perspective. The question is, how does he feel like he’s being treated? That is imperative here, and if you can thread the needle and figure out a way to solve your problem while still keeping Luis Castillo content, then that’s the ideal (situation). That’s the goal, that is the aim of this whole thing. And it’s a very delicate and difficult subject.”
Castillo in line for positive regression?
While it has been a struggle for Castillo early on, Passan sees some reason to believe his numbers will level out with more starts. He pointed to Castillo’s 4.25 FIP, which is nearly identical to Bryan Woo’s and better than Logan Gilbert’s. However, he is concerned with Castillo’s career-low groundball rate.
“Ever since he’s come to Seattle, he’s been much more of a flyball pitcher. But he’s down to a 33% ground ball rate this year. Not good,” Passan said. “I will say this, the positive regression is going to come in the form of runners being stranded. He’s got a strand rate right now of only 58.8%, league average is somewhere in the 70-plus range.”
Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player in this story. Listen to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
Seattle Mariners coverage
• Seattle Mariners place Gabe Speier on IL, add two lefty relievers
• The latest on Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh’s injury
• Seattle Mariners showing some concerning signs on defense
• Mariners prospect Felnin Celesten on a tear for High-A Everett
• What Mariners’ Emerson Hancock says has been key to his breakout
The West Seattle Junction space formerly occupied by Willow, preceded by Fleurt, will not be empty for long. A familiar Junction fashion entrepreneur is moving into 4536 California SW – here’s the announcement:
Well-known West Seattle staple Carmilia’s announced today that it will open a new store in the Alaska Junction, offering everything from skincare products to fashion accessories. The new store, located at 4536 California Ave SW, formerly home to Fleurt and Willow, will do a soft opening on Art Walk Night, May 14, 2026. Carmilia’s owner, Linda Walsh, is at the helm of the project.
The store will be filled with all of Walsh’s favorite things: shoes, accessories, and gifts, at a variety of price points. It’s the perfect place to find unique and playful items for your next celebration or shopping spree. The store’s scheduled hours are Wednesday-Saturday 11 am-6 pm, and Sunday 10 am-4 pm.
Walsh told us she hasn’t yet settled on a name, so if you pass the future shop’s windows you will probably see “Watch This Space” as a placeholder!
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