Cal Raleigh makes Home Run Derby history

Cal Raleigh, the Seattle Mariners' catcher, has made headlines in 2025 by becoming the first switch-hitter and catcher to participate in the illustrious Home Run Derby. This achievement not only underscores his unique skill set but also highlights a significant moment in baseball history. Raleigh's participation is particularly poignant as he will be joined on the field by his family; his father will pitch to him while his brother catches . Such familial involvement adds an emotional layer to this competitive event that resonates with fans and players alike.

Cal Raleigh was 8 years old when he hoisted a bat in his backyard and declared himself a Home Run Derby champ. The footage, courtesy of his father, made the rounds when Raleigh was announced as a contestant.

It hits differently a few days later.

“The video is crazy,” Raleigh said. “I mean, I don’t know where they found that thing in the archives. Just kind of surreal.”

In the first round of the Home Run Derby, Raleigh started the round as a left-handed batter, where he hit eight home runs. Then he took a timeout, switched to the right side and hit another nine home runs to tie Rooker. 

Raleigh made history when he hit 38 home runs before the MLB All-Star break, the second-most all-time at this point in the season.

Raleigh was almost eliminated in Round 1 when he and Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker tied with 17 home runs, but the M's slugger won the tiebreaker by the slimmest of margins, as his longest home run traveled 470.61 feet to Rooker's 470.53.

"An inch off and I'm not even in the final four, which is amazing," Raleigh said. "So, I guess I got lucky there: one extra biscuit."

Raleigh totaled 54 homers on the night. His brother, nicknamed T, kept yelling encouragement to the brother he so admires.

"His swag, the way he plays, the way he hustles," T said.

Raleigh put on quite the show in the finals, ending regulation with a last-second homer to right-center to reach 15 before hitting three more in the bonus round. At one point, the catcher homered on six straight pitches -- three before his timeout and three after it. Again batting solely left-handed, Raleigh increased his Home Run Derby total to 54 homers.

Raleigh's impressive performance leading up to the Derby has positioned him as a formidable contender. With 36 home runs, he leads Major League Baseball and boasts notable metrics such as being in the 87th percentile for average exit velocity . His power profile aligns perfectly with the demands of the Derby format, making him a strong candidate for victory. While concerns about stamina due to his catching role linger, Raleigh's record-breaking season suggests that he possesses both talent and resilience necessary for success .

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Sara H

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