The remarkable 2025 campaign of Cal Raleigh has witnessed him achieving the 50-home run threshold, marking the highest number of homers in a single season by a catcher primarily playing that position in MLB’s chronicle. He also holds the distinction of being the pioneer in MLB history to achieve a minimum of 20 home runs from both sides of the plate within the same season.
Now, the focus shifts to determining the ultimate height of his count. On Sunday, Raleigh added home run No. 53, delivering a three-run shot into the depths of center field during the ninth inning as the Mariners dominated the Atlanta Braves with an 18-2 victory.
Sunday’s impressive hit brings Raleigh within a single home run of tying Mickey Mantle’s switch-hitting record of 54 homers, a milestone the Yankees’ icon reached back in 1961.
This marks Raleigh’s second homer in the series when playing the Braves.
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The Journey of Raleigh
The Seattle Mariners’ catcher’s ascent towards home run fame started at the tail end of March, with his initial homer of the season, and he has sustained this powerful momentum ever since. Raleigh has showcased his power by hitting homers in successive games on eight occasions and amassing a total of nine games with multiple homers throughout this season.
Raleigh is posing a challenge to the American League record of 62 home runs, previously established by New York Yankees’ powerhouse Aaron Judge back in 2022. The nickname “Big Dumper” is steadily closing in on Ken Griffey Jr.’s Mariners record of 56 home runs, which “The Kid” accomplished twice, during both 1997 and 1998 seasons.
As Raleigh progresses closer to etching his name in history during this MVP-caliber season, we’re diligently charting each significant 2025 home run leading up to Game 162.
MARCH
Total Home Runs: 1
March 31: Raleigh initiated his 2025 home run journey during the Mariners’ fifth game of the season, a 9-6 defeat against the Detroit Tigers. His impressive 358-foot hit occurred six days after he formalized a six-year contract extension valued at $105 million.
APRIL
Total Home Runs: 9
April 11: The groundwork for history was established early in the season for Raleigh. During the Mariners’ 14th game, he launched his third homer of the season when facing Texas Rangers’ pitcher Chris Martin, thereby securing the franchise record for career home runs by a catcher with his 96th.
MAY
Total Home Runs: 12
May 2: Raleigh achieved his first grand slam of the season during a game featuring two homers and five RBIs, which resulted in a resounding 13-1 victory over Jack Leiter and the Rangers.
May 27: Raleigh’s third game of the season with multiple home runs elevated his total to 19 for the year and set a new MLB record for home runs hit by a catcher within a team’s initial 53 games of a season. Both homers occurred against Washington Nationals’ pitcher Mitchell Parker.
May 30: Raleigh distinguished himself as the first catcher in MLB history to amass 20 home runs before the conclusion of May, accomplishing this feat with another night of multiple homers that contributed to five RBIs during a 12-6 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
JUNE
Total Home Runs: 11
June 20: Raleigh maintained his prolific form from May into June, achieving double-digit home runs once again and establishing an MLB record for homers hit by a catcher prior to the All-Star break, marked by his 29th of the season at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs.
June 21: Remaining at Wrigley the subsequent day, Raleigh recorded No. 30, thereby becoming the first switch-hitter in MLB history to accomplish this feat before the All-Star break, surpassing the achievements of Mickey Mantle, José Ramírez, and Lance Berkman. He also attained the status of being the first player to hit 30 home runs within his team’s opening 75 games since 2001, a milestone previously attained by Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez.
Cal Raleigh’s historic season with the Seattle Mariners has featured him winning the Home Run Derby and becoming the first MLB player to reach 50 home runs. (Photo by Gene Wang, Capture At Media/Getty Images)
(Gene Wang – Capture At Media via Getty Images)
JULY
Total Home Runs: 9
July 14: At the time that the baseball community converged upon Atlanta for the All-Star Game, Raleigh had already amassed an impressive count of 38 home runs. He extended his power display to Georgia, where he achieved the distinction of becoming the first catcher to win the Home Run Derby, narrowly defeating Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero in the final round. Raleigh joins Griffey as the second Mariner to secure this event, with Griffey having achieved the Derby title three times. Furthermore, Raleigh holds the distinction of being the first switch-hitter to win the Derby outright, as Rubén Sierra, the only other switch-hitter to win, shared the title back in 1998.
July 26: Approximately two weeks following Raleigh’s victory in the Derby, he recorded No. 40, thus becoming the seventh catcher in MLB history to record a 40-homer season, joining the ranks of Salvador Perez, Johnny Bench, Javy López, Todd Hundley, Roy Campanella, and Mike Piazza. This marked the 133rd homer of Raleigh’s career, moving him ahead of Ken Griffey Jr. to secure the most home runs by a Mariner within his initial five MLB seasons.
AUGUST
Total Home Runs: 8
Aug. 15: Homer No. 46 was launched during a triumph over the New York Mets, which also witnessed Raleigh reach 100 RBI for the season. This achievement matched his previous career high, established in 2024, and positioned Raleigh as the first catcher since Mike Piazza in 1999 and 2000 to accumulate 100 RBI in successive seasons while playing at least 50% of his games behind the plate.
Aug. 24: An 11-4 victory over the Athletics resulted in yet another game with multiple homers from Raleigh — one that featured him tying and subsequently surpassing the MLB record for home runs hit by a catcher in a single season, as he recorded Nos. 48 and 49 to move ahead of Salvador Perez.
Aug. 25: Raleigh achieved the milestone of 50 home runs before any other MLB player this season, accomplishing this feat with a first-inning homer during a victory over the San Diego Padres. He stands alone as the only primary catcher to ever record 50 homers in a single season.
September
Total Home Runs: 3 (and still counting)
Sept. 2: Raleigh recorded his first homer of September in a 6-5 defeat against the Tampa Bay Rays. Rays’ starter Drew Rasmussen delivered a 96 mph fastball high and over the middle of the plate, which Raleigh then launched into the right-field stands at Steinbrenner Field.
