SEATTLE (AP) 鈥 Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh quipped that he was ready for things to go back to normal, while speaking with reporters for the first time since the All-Star break.
But, what exactly, has Raleigh鈥檚 鈥渘ormal鈥 been in 2025?
Prior to becoming the first catcher and switch hitter to on Monday night, Raleigh with 38.
He鈥檚 already set a career high for home runs in a season, and only needs to drive in 19 more runs over the Mariners鈥 final 68 games to set a watermark in that category as well.
Raleigh said the 2025 campaign has been normal in some ways, and in others, not so much.
鈥淚 feel like the last month has been obviously a little more,鈥 Raleigh said. 鈥淏ut, it鈥檚 a good thing, not a bad thing. I don鈥檛 want to make it seem like it鈥檚 a burden or it鈥檚 anything like that 鈥檆ause it鈥檚 not. It鈥檚 a great position to be in.鈥
Raleigh鈥檚 first half allowed him to create an abundance of memories over his three days in Atlanta. His father, Todd, a former coach of Tennessee and Western Carolina, threw the pitches during the Home Run Derby. Cal鈥檚 15-year-old brother, Todd Raleigh Jr., did the catching.
鈥淚t was an unforgettable night,鈥 Raleigh said. 鈥淥bviously, I (got) to have my family involved and to win the whole thing was something I didn鈥檛 think I was going to do. So, all around, great night. Definitely one that I鈥檒l remember for a while.鈥
For all the memorable moments, though, Raleigh did a whole bunch of hustling and bustling. Raleigh, who has caught the third-most innings in the majors so far this season, found himself busy with media obligations, signing events and catching up with others in the baseball world.
There wasn鈥檛 much downtime, but he did briefly sneak home Wednesday to Cullowhee, North Carolina to hang out with his family. He even got to watch his brother play in a travel ball tournament in East Cobb, Georgia, located just 15 minutes north of Truist Park, home of the 2025 All-Star Game.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 get to see him,鈥 Raleigh said, 鈥渟o it was a good all-around week.鈥
But now, his focus has turned to propelling the Mariners into the postseason for the second time since making his major league debut in 2021.
Entering Friday night鈥檚 contest against the AL West-leading Houston Astros, the Mariners held a 1 1/2 game lead on the Tampa Bay Rays for the final wild-card spot.
Seattle finished the first half by winning six of its final nine games, and as a team hit better than expected while coming up a bit short on the pitching side.
From Raleigh鈥檚 perspective, the Mariners have sufficient talent, but just need to be more consistent.
鈥淲e need each guy to carry their own weight, carry their end of the bargain, I guess, for the team,鈥 Raleigh said. 鈥淎nd each night, like I said, being prepared and I think if each guy鈥檚 doing that, I think we鈥檙e going to like where we鈥檙e at at the end of the year.鈥
It would only help the Mariners鈥 cause, though, if Raleigh could replicate, or at least come close to repeating what he accomplished during Seattle鈥檚 first 96 games. Should Raleigh continue with his offensive excellence, he could find himself adding more hardware to what he accumulated at the All-Star festivities.
Which, of course, wouldn鈥檛 be all that normal for as even-keeled a backstop as there is in the majors 鈥 one who preaches that his routines are what have kept him grounded amid his ascent.
鈥淲hen you get to the field, it鈥檚 still the same process that you鈥檝e been going through,鈥 Raleigh said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 that slow, kind of process, that slow burn up to the game and making sure that you鈥檙e prepared, ready to go and doing the things that you need to do and making sure that you鈥檙e not letting things creep in that are not as important.鈥
___
AP MLB:
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation