Watch: Mariners star Cal Raleigh extends MLB lead with 25th HR

Cal Raleigh did it again.

The Seattle Mariners star catcher extended his MLB home run lead with his 25th blast of the season in the first inning of Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.

M’s star Cal Raleigh: ‘100 percent’ would do HR Derby

Raleigh’s latest blast was a skyscraping three-run shot to right-center field that came off an 0-1 sinker from Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz.

It was far from Raleigh hardest-hit homer of the year, registering just a 99 mph exit velocity. But it carried just enough, sneaking past the outstretched glove of center fielder Jo Adell and barely clearing the yellow line for a 372-foot homer.

It was Raleigh’s eighth long ball in his past 10 games.

Raleigh is now two homers ahead of Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, who is second in the majors with 23. New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is third with 21.

Raleigh is on a historic pace. He’s currently on track for 64 homers, which would break Judge’s American League record of 62 in 2022. He’s also on track to shatter the record for most homers by a catcher, which Kansas City Royals slugger Salvador Perez set with 48 in 2021.

Just over a week ago, Raleigh became the first catcher in MLB history to reach 20 homers before the start of June.

Raleigh is slashing .272/.381/.649 with 1.030 OPS in 63 games this season. The 28-year-old switch-hitter and reigning AL Platinum Glove Award winner ranks second in the majors in both slugging percentage and OPS, trailing only Judge in both categories.

More Seattle Mariners coverage

• The latest on when Gilbert could return to Seattle Mariners’ rotation
• M’s Roster Moves: One reliever back from IL, another DFA’d for 6th time
• Salk: Seattle Mariners feeling the loss of Luke Raley during slide
• M’s RHP Bryce Miller explains why he pitched through elbow trouble
• Seattle Mariners are losing identity that made offense thrive

Related

Mariners slug 5 HRs in historic 19-1 blowout of A’sM’s rookie Michael Arroyo blasts first career HR in rout of A’sA’s beat Mariners 6-5 on Walton’s walkoff HR in 10th inningMariners Notes: Power-hitting prospect to play in fall leagueJulio Rodríguez sees quick results from work at the plateWhere Mariners’ dwindling playoff hopes stand with 15 games left