Hosting an electrifying show in Seattle's T-Mobile Park on Friday, Cal Raleigh sent shockwaves through the baseball world with a spectacular display of power hitting. The Mariners' catcher smashed two colossal home runs, propelling his season total to an astounding 35 homers, a feat that equals Ken Griffey Jr.'s franchise record for most home runs before the All-Star break.
Raleigh's first-round knockout blow came in the opening inning when he unleashed on a pitch from Bailey Falter, sending the ball soaring over the left-field wall at an exit velocity of 115.2 mph. The sheer force of the hit made it the hardest ball he has ever struck in his career. But he wasn't done yet. In the sixth inning, Raleigh crushed another pitch from Falter for a solo blast, surpassing his previous career high for home runs set last season.
Such a remarkable performance has placed Raleigh in elite company, as his 35 home runs now tie him for the fifth-highest total in MLB history before the All-Star break. Alongside legends like Griffey and Luis Gonzalez, Raleigh's power surge is rewriting the record books, with Barry Bonds' 39 homers in 2001 standing alone at the top of this elite list.
Reflecting on his achievement, Raleigh humbly expressed his admiration for Griffey, referring to him as the embodiment of Mariners greatness. The young catcher acknowledged the privilege of sharing accolades with a baseball icon and emphasized his commitment to maintaining his momentum. With a projected pace to shatter Aaron Judge's American League record of 62 home runs in a single season, Raleigh's stellar performance has set the stage for a historic campaign.
Manager Dan Wilson, a former teammate of Griffey Jr., marveled at Raleigh's consistency and likened his impact to that of the Mariners' beloved Hall of Famer. Drawing parallels between Raleigh and the ability of Griffey to make the extraordinary seem routine, Wilson highlighted the catcher's remarkable display of power throughout the season.
As a switch-hitter, Raleigh's versatility and power are on full display as he leads the Mariners in home runs from both sides of the plate. With 21 homers coming as a left-handed batter and 14 as a right-handed hitter, Raleigh's dual-threat approach has been a driving force behind Seattle's offensive success this season.
Having earned a well-deserved spot as the American League's starting catcher for the upcoming All-Star Game and participating in the coveted Home Run Derby, Raleigh's trajectory in 2025 shows no signs of slowing down. As he continues to rewrite the record books and dazzle audiences with his prodigious power, fans and analysts alike eagerly await his next feat on the diamond.
Despite facing technical difficulties with access to additional information related to this remarkable performance, the impact of Raleigh's power surge reverberates through the baseball world, solidifying his status as one of the game's most exciting young stars. With the Mariners gearing up for eight more games before the All-Star break, there's no telling what extraordinary feats Cal Raleigh may achieve next.
