Seattle Mariners Catcher Cal Raleigh Talks About All-Star Week Experience
In this story:
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners are set to begin the second half of the season with the first of a three-game series against the Houston Astros at 7:10 p.m. PT on Friday at T-Mobile Park.
The Mariners enjoyed a much-needed All-Star Break. But while other players got to enjoy the break, Cal Raleigh stayed busy.
Raleigh became the first catcher in history to win the Home Run Derby on July 14 and was the American League's starting catcher in the All-Star Game the following day. Raleigh won the Derby with his father pitching and younger brother catching.
"It was an unforgettable night," Raleigh said in a pregame media scrum Friday. "Obviously get to have my family involved, to win the whole thing, was something I didn't think I was gonna do. All around, great night. Definitely one I'm gonna remember for a while."
A show we’ll never forget. #TridentsUp | #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/fYpwCsRUqu
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 18, 2025
Raleigh has received more attention this year than he has in the last four seasons of his major league career. He leads the majors in home runs (38) and RBIs (82). His 38 homers are the most by a catcher, switch-hitter and American League batter going into the All-Star Break in MLB history. Raleigh's considered an AL MVP candidate due to historic season, and the other player in the running for the award, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, spoke with Raleigh and his family during the derby.
"You see how good of a player he is, but you don't know how good of a person he is," Raleigh said. "Well-respected human being, obviously. A great leader — kind of picked that up throughout their whole staff. ... Obviously someone who has been there done that kind of thing, has a lot of eyes on him all the time being who he is and just somebody who carries himself the right way."
Raleigh said he's ready for things to get to normal after his chaotic week, but he was grateful for the experience and said he would "definitely be there" if he has a chance to go again in his career.
Raleigh mentioned talking to the pitchers as being a highlight experience for him. Raleigh caught reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers), Carlos Rodon (Yankees), his teammate Bryan Woo, Joe Ryan (Minnesota Twins) and Drew Rasmussen (Tampa Bay Rays) in the All-Star Game.
"It's taking things that they do, but also understanding that it's a baseball game," Raleigh said. "A lot of it is pretty much the same across the league. It's all about executing and it's all about going out there and focusing on the little things and focusing on the things that are gonna help you throughout (the season). It's understanding, yeah you want to take things, you want to learn things from other guys but applying it in your way. Not necessarily their's. Everybody's always gonna have their own way of doing things and it's just about molding it to how you want to go about it."
Raleigh had a week he won't forget, and now he and the rest of Seattle's roster will look to make a final postseason push and try to have a season that the whole club won't forget.
Related Stories on Seattle Mariners
MARINERS EXECUTIVE JERRY DIPOTO TALKS TEAM'S APPROACH IN TRADE MARKET: In a recent interview with the Seattle Times, the Mariners' president of baseball operations talked about where the team stands at the trade deadline. CLICK HERE
ANALYSIS: HOW MUCH DOES SEATTLE REALLY NEED TO IMPROVE BULLPEN?: Many analysts have highlighted the bullpen as an area the club could improve via trade, but it might not be as crucial a priority as many think. CLICK HERE
PITCHING MATCHUPS FOR SERIES BETWEEN MARINERS, ASTROS: The Mariners will begin the second half of the season against their biggest division rivals. CLICK HERE
Follow Seattle Mariners on SI on social media
Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on "X" @Teren_Kowatsch and @RefuseToLosePod. You can subscribe to the "Refuse to Lose" podcast by clicking HERE.
