Cal Raleigh hits 3rd HR of rehab stint — when could he return?

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh went yard again during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday night.

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Playing in his second game with the Rainiers this week, Raleigh blasted a 1-2 cutter from Albuquerque right-hander Blake Adams over the fence in right field for a 377-foot, three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning at Cheney Stadium. He finished the night 1 for 4 at the plate in his second start at catcher and third overall game since beginning a rehab assignment on Sunday.

The homer was another good sign that Raleigh could be nearing his return to a major league field. He also homered twice, including a grand slam, in first game with Tacoma on Tuesday. In three total rehab starts with Tacoma and High-A Everett, Raleigh was 4 for 10 at the plate with three homers and nine RBIs entering Friday.

So when could the 2025 American League MVP runner-up return to the Mariners?

The start of their next homestand on Tuesday seems like the earliest date.

Seattle Sports Mariners insider Shann Drayer reported June 3 that the plan for Raleigh was to remain in Tacoma until at least the end of this week and the club would reassess the status of their star catcher afterwards.

The Mariners wrap up a 10-game road trip against the Washington Nationals on Sunday before returning home for a six homestand starting Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles.

When Raleigh does return, whether it’s Tuesday or later, the M’s will have an interesting roster decision to make since both Jhonny Pereda and Mitch Garver have filled in well in Raleigh’s absence. Pereda is batting .275 with a .731 OPS and two homers in 15 games since Raleigh went on the injured list May 14, and Garver is hitting .211 with a .759 OPS, three homers and one double over 14 games during the same stretch.

A determining factor on that roster decision could be that Pereda still has minor-league options available, while Garver would have to be designated for assignment to be removed from the 26-man roster. Additionally, Garver would have the right to refuse a minor-league assignment and become a free agent due to having at least five years of MLB service time.

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