Watch: An 8-year-old Cal Raleigh was all about the Home Run Derby

If there was any thought that Seattle Mariners All-Star Cal Raleigh would pass up on the chance to compete in the Home Run Derby, a recently unearthed video proves that it’s been a dream for the switch-hitting catcher for a long time.

Like, at least 20 years.

Three more Seattle Mariners join Cal Raleigh as AL All-Stars

MLB.com reporter Daniel Kramer, who covers the Mariners, shared a video on Monday that was provided by Todd Raleigh Sr., Cal’s dad. In it, an 8-year-old Cal Raleigh is seen proclaiming to be the Home Run Derby champion.

Ever want to see what Cal Raleigh was like as a kid? Well, here you go.

That’s a little different than the humble Cal Raleigh we’ve come to know in Seattle. Of course, who among us didn’t have delusions of grandeur around that age about our baseball potential? And for Raleigh, they were not delusions. He’s the MLB leader in home runs and the AL’s starting catcher in the All-Star Game on July 15 in Atlanta, and he will have the chance to make good on that Home Run Derby champion proclamation.

Alonso, Schwarber not joining Cal Raleigh in Home Run Derby

Cal in the Derby

The Home Run Derby on July 14 at Atlanta’s Truist Park will be a pretty cool full circle moment for Raleigh, who grew up in North Carolina and spent a lot of time growing up playing baseball in Atlanta, which was a few hours drive for his family. His father, a former college baseball head coach at Tennessee and Western Carolina, will pitch to Cal, while his 15-year-old brother Todd Raleigh Jr. will serve as the catcher.

Cal Raleigh is the reigning American League Player of the Month and enters Monday with a .268 average, 1.021 OPS, 35 home runs and 74 RBIs in 88 games. In addition to leading MLB in homers, he’s second in OPS and slugging (.640), tied for second in RBIs, tied for seventh in walks (56), tied for eighth in runs (63), and 12th in on-base percentage (.381).

He’s also already broke the records for most home runs in a season before the All-Star break for both catchers and switch-hitters.

Raleigh and the Mariners begin a six-day road trip leading into the All-Star break with a 4:05 p.m. game Tuesday against the New York Yankees. Radio coverage on Seattle Sports will start at 3 p.m. with the pregame show.

The M’s are 48-42 after a three-game series sweep over the Pittsburgh Pirates, which puts them 2 1/2 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox for the third and final wild card spot in the American League.

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