The numbers behind Cal Raleigh’s historic first half

Jun 20, 2025, 2:33 PM | Updated: 8:10 pm

Seattle Sports

Cal Raleigh continues to ascend into uncharted territory.

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Raleigh broke the MLB record for most home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break on Friday afternoon, hitting his MLB-leading 28th and 29th homers in the Seattle Mariners’ 9-4 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Raleigh surpassed the previous mark set by Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench, who hit 28 homers over the first half of 1970. Raleigh needed just 73 games to set the record, while Bench needed 87.

Raleigh also tied the MLB record for most home runs by a switch-hitter before the All-Star break, according to Mariners broadcaster Gary Hill. He joins Mickey Mantle (1956 and 1961), Lance Berkman (2002) and José Ramírez (2018) as the only other switch-hitters with 29 homers before the Midsummer Classic.

The Mariners’ 28-year-old star catcher hit both of his home runs from the right side of the plate on Friday. He began with a 381-foot solo shot to left-center field in the first inning, then broke a 4-4 tie with a two-run, 419-foot blast onto Waveland Ave. in the seventh. Raleigh now has 10 homers from the right side and 19 from the left side this season.

Raleigh is now two homers ahead of New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is second in the majors with 27 long balls. Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is third with 25.

It was the sixth multi-homer game of the season for Raleigh. He’s currently on pace for 63 homers, which would break Judge’s American League record of 62 in 2022. He’s also on track to shatter the MLB record for most homers by a catcher, which Kansas City Royals slugger Salvador Perez set with 48 in 2021.

Raleigh also had his ninth stolen base of the season on Friday. Less than halfway through the 162-game slate, he’s just one homer and one steal away from becoming the fourth catcher in MLB history with 30-plus homers and 10-plus steals in a season. The only other catchers to achieve the feat are Carlton Fisk (37 homers and 17 steals in 1985), Iván Rodríguez (35 homers and 25 steals in 1999) and Jimmie Foxx (36 homers and 10 steals in 1937).

In addition, Raleigh joined Ken Griffey Jr. as the only Mariners to hit at least 29 homers before the All-Star break. Griffey did so three times, including a club-record 35 in 1998.

Raleigh is slashing .273/.379/.646 with a 1.025 OPS this year. The reigning AL Platinum Glove Award winner ranks second in the majors in both slugging percentage and OPS, trailing Judge in both categories.