Mariners' Cal Raleigh Leads MLB with Record 23 Home Runs

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is having a historic 2025 season, leading Major League Baseball with 23 home runs and becoming the first catcher ever to hit 20 home runs before the end of May. Raleigh's power surge has put him on pace to challenge the major league single-season home run record for catchers, with a projection of 64 homers, surpassing Salvador Perez's 48 in 2021. Beyond his offensive impact, Raleigh is also excelling defensively, ranking eighth among big league catchers in Fielding Run Value and contributing significantly to the Mariners' AL West-leading 32-26 record despite injuries to key pitchers. His performance has drawn MVP chants from fans and praise from teammates and coaches, highlighting his role as the team's offensive leader and a special player overall. Despite some losses, including a tough 12-6 defeat to the Twins where Raleigh still hit two home runs, his consistent production and improvements in walk rate and strikeout reduction underscore a mature, all-around game. Raleigh's dominance at the catcher position has also created a significant fantasy baseball advantage, outslugging other top catchers like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani and setting new milestones for the Mariners franchise.