MLB HR leader Cal Raleigh enters Home Run Derby – with his dad

The breakout season of Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is making a stop at the Home Run Derby, and it’s going to be a family affair.

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Raleigh, the switch-hitting slugger who leads MLB in home runs, is entering the derby on Monday, July 14 at Atlanta’s Truist Park. The news was announced Friday, along with another important element: Raleigh’s father, Todd Raleigh Sr., will pitch to him in the event.

According to MLB.com Mariners reporter Daniel Kramer, the hope is that Todd Raleigh Jr., Cal’s 15-year-old brother, will serve as the catcher when he hits in the derby.

Todd Raleigh Sr. is a former college baseball coach, including stints as head coach at Western Carolina (2000-07) and Tennessee (2008-11).

Cal Raleigh is the second player announced for this year’s Home Run Derby field, joining Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr.

 

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The festivities in Atlanta will be a bit of a homecoming for Cal Raleigh, who regularly played youth baseball in the area while growing up one state over in North Carolina.

“I’m excited to represent the Mariners and our fanbase,” Raleigh said in a statement. “It will be extra special for me getting to do it in Atlanta, where I spent a lot of time playing baseball as a kid.”

No catcher has ever won the Home Run Derby, which began in 1985.

Raleigh becomes the eighth Seattle player to compete in the derby, joining Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez along with Jay Buhner, Alex Rodriguez, Bret Boone, Robinson Canó and current teammate Julio Rodríguez. Griffey won the event in 1994, 1998 and 1999, and in 1993, he became the only player to hit the B&O Warehouse at Camden Yards on the fly.

Big year for “Big Dumper”

It’s more than likely that Raleigh will have more to do in Atlanta than compete in his first Home Run Derby. He’s one of two finalists competing in a head-to-head vote to determine the starting catcher for the American League in the All-Star Game in July 15, which would be his first All-Star nod. Raleigh had a commanding lead over Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk in Phase 1 of the All-Star voting.

The All-Star starters will be announced next Wednesday on ESPN, followed by the full rosters on Sunday, July 6, also on ESPN.

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Raleigh would be the first Mariners player to start in an All-Star Game since Nelson Cruz was the designated hitter for the AL in 2015.

Entering Friday, Raleigh leads MLB in home runs with 32, four more than second-place Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees. He’s also pacing the league in RBIs with 69.

Through 79 games, Raleigh has a slash line of .275/.380/.651 for a 1.031 OPS.

Raleigh is only two home runs shy of his career-high total of 34, which he set last season. He’s also the reigning AL Player of the Week, an honor he has won twice this month.

Even with the All-Star Game still weeks away, Raleigh has already set a number of records for home runs in a season before the Midsummer Classic, including most by a catcher and most by a switch-hitter. Those records were previously held by Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Mickey Mantle, respectively.

This post includes contributions from The Associated Press.

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