Cal Raleigh’s dream season just found its exclamation point.
The Seattle Mariners catcher made MLB history on Monday night by becoming the first catcher and first switch-hitter to win the Home Run Derby, defeating Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero 18-15 in a dramatic final round in Atlanta. Already on pace for a season to remember, Raleigh’s win was as emotional as it was electric—thanks in part to a family-filled support crew and a baseball journey years in the making.
Raleigh’s performance wasn’t just historic—it was deeply personal. With his father, Todd, pitching to him and his younger brother, Todd Jr., catching behind the plate, the Derby became a full-blown family affair. The moment cemented Raleigh’s rise from a third-round draft pick into one of baseball’s brightest stars.
But this wasn’t just a feel-good story. Raleigh muscled his way through the competition, surviving a razor-thin tiebreaker in the first round and then overpowering Oneil Cruz in the semis before sealing the crown against Caminero. His power at the plate has become nothing short of generational. With 38 home runs in the first half of the season, Raleigh leads the majors—yes, more than Judge, Ohtani, and anyone else.
For Seattle fans, the moment carried echoes of Ken Griffey Jr.'s Derby dominance from the '90s. Raleigh becomes the first Mariner to win the Derby since Griffey in 1999, and his performance is being hailed as a sign that a new star is emerging—one with both pop and poise.
A Season for the Ages
Raleigh was already having a season that fantasy managers dream about:
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38 HR, 82 RBI, 10 SB
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.259/.376/.634 slash line
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AL All-Star starting catcher
He’s gone from a popular local figure in the Pacific Northwest to one of the most recognizable names in baseball. With each home run, he’s redefining what’s possible for his position—traditionally defense-first, power-light—and shifting the narrative around modern catchers.
His nickname, “Big Dumper,” has also become part of the legend, introduced in true ESPN fashion by Pat McAfee to roaring laughter from the Atlanta crowd. From comedic intros to crushing moonshots, Raleigh has quickly become one of the game’s most beloved personalities.
Not Just About the Long Ball
Even as Raleigh soaked in the Derby win, real baseball drama was unfolding just days earlier. He found himself in the middle of a pitch-tipping controversy in New York, where the Yankees came back from five runs down to walk off the Mariners—possibly aided by signs from second base. Raleigh, always honest and grounded, admitted postgame that the team should’ve been better prepared.
“It’s part of the game,” he said. “We should have known.”
It’s that kind of straight talk—and high-level production—that’s made Raleigh the emotional and physical backbone of this Mariners team.
What’s Next?
For the Mariners, Raleigh’s performance is more than a midseason highlight—it’s a rallying point. With postseason hopes still very much alive, Seattle will be looking to ride the wave of their backstop’s red-hot bat.
The Mariners haven’t had a player like this in decades. And the league hasn’t seen a catcher like Raleigh—a switch-hitting slugger with defensive prowess and clubhouse gravity—maybe ever.
If this is the first half, imagine what comes next.
