Mariners' Cal Raleigh Sets AL Record with 38 Home Runs Before All-Star Break

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is having a historic 2025 MLB season, hitting 38 home runs before the All-Star break, just one shy of Barry Bonds' 2001 record of 39. Raleigh's recent two-homer game against the Detroit Tigers, including a grand slam, helped Seattle secure a 12-3 victory and showcased his consistent power, tying Mickey Mantle's MLB record for most multi-homer games by a switch-hitter in a season. He leads Major League Baseball in both home runs and RBIs, with an OPS above 1.000, and has surpassed legendary figures such as Reggie Jackson, Chris Davis, and Mark McGwire for second-most homers before the All-Star break. Raleigh is set to participate in the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game, with two games remaining in the Mariners' Detroit series to potentially break Bonds' record. His performance marks him as one of baseball's elite players this season, with the potential to contend for the MLB home run title. While Bonds' record is viewed within the context of the steroid era, Raleigh's achievements highlight a new era of consistent power hitting.