The Seattle Mariners’ celebrated catcher, Cal Raleigh, is currently enjoying what many consider a landmark 2025 season. Monday’s game saw him achieve yet another significant accomplishment, adding to his already remarkable year.
With a powerful hit in the first inning against the San Diego Padres on Monday evening, Raleigh distinguished himself as the first major league player this season to reach 50 home runs.
Padres pitcher JP Sears delivered a fastball, clocked at 3-2, that skirted the lower inside edge of the plate. Raleigh seized the opportunity, sending the ball soaring 419 feet into the upper levels of the left-field stands at T-Mobile Park.
This solo home run provided the Mariners with an initial advantage, putting them ahead 1-0.
Raleigh’s swiftness in reaching this milestone ahead of his contemporaries might not be entirely surprising, considering his consistent power hitting throughout the season. While New York Yankees’ hitter Aaron Judge presented formidable competition earlier in the year, an elbow injury sidelined Judge near the close of July, allowing Raleigh to extend his lead in home runs.
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With 40 home runs, Judge remains a contender in the home-run chase. The same can be said of Seattle Mariners’ third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who mirrors Judge’s count with 40 home runs. As they began play on Monday, Kyle Schwarber and Shohei Ohtani were neck and neck for second place, each having hit 45 home runs.
While any of these players might mount a powerful surge and potentially overtake Raleigh, his prospects for leading the league in home runs seem promising. Despite Raleigh’s batting average of just .216 in the 34 games following the All-Star break, he has maintained a noteworthy .485 slugging percentage during that time, due to 12 home runs.
With approximately one month remaining in the regular season, Barry Bonds’ single-season record of 73 home runs appears secure for the moment. Following Monday’s home run, Raleigh needs 23 more to equal Bonds’ record. Although Raleigh has demonstrated exceptional power in 2025, his highest monthly home-run total is 12.
While the single-season record may be unattainable, Raleigh still has ample time to earn additional recognition. The American League MVP race is anticipated to be a contest between Raleigh and Judge. Although Judge has performed better as an overall hitter, Raleigh’s powerful hitting and impressive defensive skills could lead to him winning the award. According to FanGraphs’ WAR metric, the two are nearly equal in contention for the award, suggesting that the final month of the year will be decisive.
Thanks to Raleigh’s outstanding performance, the Mariners are fiercely competing for a wild-card spot in the AL. While achieving milestones and receiving individual awards is gratifying, securing a postseason berth and guiding the Mariners to their first championship would serve as the perfect culmination to Raleigh’s remarkable season.
