### Mariners' Cal Raleigh: A Historic Season in the Making Cal Raleigh, the Seattle Mariners' catcher, is having an extraordinary season, leading Major League Baseball (MLB) in home runs with 23 as of June 2, 2025. His performance has sparked "MVP" chants from fans, reflecting his significant impact on the team's success. Raleigh's achievements are not just impressive; they are historic, as he is on pace to break the record for home runs by a primary catcher in a single season, currently held at 48 by Salvador Perez in 2021. This season, Raleigh has already made headlines by becoming the first catcher in MLB history to hit 20 or more home runs before the end of May, showcasing his exceptional talent and consistency at the plate [https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/mariners-cal-raleigh-leads-mlb-in-homers-and-is-on-pace-to-set-a-season-record-for-catchers]. ### Breakdown of Raleigh's Historic Performance 1. **Home Run Milestones**: - Raleigh has hit 23 home runs, leading the MLB, with a recent solo shot contributing to a Mariners victory over the Minnesota Twins [https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/mariners-cal-raleigh-leads-mlb-in-homers-and-is-on-pace-to-set-a-season-record-for-catchers]. - He has homered six times in his last six games, indicating a torrid stretch of form [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/seattle_mariners_catcher_continues_to_make_unreal_history_with_torrid_stretch_at_plate/s1_17042_42276072]. 2. **Historical Context**: - Raleigh is on pace to hit 64 home runs this season, which would shatter the current record for catchers and set a new franchise record for the Mariners [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/power_surging_cal_raleigh_to_lead_mariners_against_orioles/s1_17044_42276958]. - He is the third primary catcher in MLB history to lead in home runs through June 1 or later, joining notable players like Salvador Perez and Javy Lopez [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/seattle_mariners_catcher_continues_to_make_unreal_history_with_torrid_stretch_at_plate/s1_17042_42276072]. 3. **Recent Accolades**: - Raleigh was named the co-American League Player of the Week, marking the first such honor of his career, after a week where he hit .348 with six home runs and 10 RBIs [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/seattle_mariners_catcher_cal_raleigh_earns_incredible_weekly_honor/s1_17042_42276732]. - He has also made franchise history by becoming the first Mariners player in nearly a decade to hit 12 or more home runs in a month [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/seattle_mariners_catcher_cal_raleigh_makes_recent_franchise_history_with_latest_homer/s1_17042_42270872]. ### Supporting Data and Statistics - **Home Run Totals**: - **Current Season**: 23 home runs (leading MLB) - **Recent Performance**: 6 home runs in the last 6 games - **Projected Total**: On pace for 64 home runs this season - **Historical Comparisons**: - **Previous Record for Catchers**: 48 home runs (Salvador Perez, 2021) - **First Catcher to 20+ HRs Before May**: Cal Raleigh [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/seattle_mariners_catcher_cal_raleigh_hits_another_historic_mark_in_friday_contest/s1_17042_42266886]. ### Conclusion: A Season for the Ages In summary, **Cal Raleigh's 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the most remarkable in MLB history for a catcher**. His current performance not only leads the league in home runs but also places him in the conversation for MVP honors. The combination of his historic home run pace, recent accolades, and franchise milestones underscores his importance to the Mariners and the potential for a record-breaking season. 1. Raleigh leads MLB with 23 home runs, significantly ahead of his peers. 2. He is on track to break the single-season home run record for catchers. 3. His recent performances have earned him recognition as a top player in the league. As the season progresses, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Raleigh can maintain this extraordinary level of play and etch his name further into baseball history [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/seattle_mariners_catcher_cal_raleigh_earns_incredible_weekly_honor/s1_17042_42276732].