Cal Raleigh Chasing Historic Baseball Record with Mariners

SEATTLE, WA – Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is on track to make baseball history this season with impressive statistics. As of Thursday, Raleigh had played in all 48 games, catching in 38 of them, and was contributing significantly to the team’s performance.

According to Paul Hembekides of ESPN, Raleigh’s current pace includes 108 runs, 54 home runs, 111 RBIs, 108 walks, and a total of 340 bases. He could potentially be the first catcher to play all 162 regular-season games.

Raleigh’s achievements are noteworthy as only three catchers in history have recorded a season with a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 9.0 or higher: Buster Posey, Johnny Bench, and Mike Piazza. Both Bench and Piazza are enshrined in the Hall of Fame, while Posey earned an MVP Award.

Currently, the 28-year-old Raleigh holds a batting average of .253 and an on-base percentage of .371. He has hit 16 home runs and driven in 33 runs, ranking him among the leaders in the American League. His defensive skills are also recognized; he won the Platinum Glove Award last year.

The Mariners, with a record of 28-21, are leading the American League West. They are set to play the Houston Astros for Game 2 of their series at Daikin Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET. Emerson Hancock will take the mound for Seattle, while Ryan Gusto will pitch for Houston.

As of now, Hancock has a 1-2 record with a 6.21 ERA, compared to Gusto’s 3-2 record with a 4.65 ERA.

In other news, the latest episode of the podcast “Refuse to Lose” features Brady live from Chicago, discussing Mariners players and sharing insights from the clubhouse. Additionally, it was reported that Andres Munoz’s involvement in the World Baseball Classic remains unconfirmed, while former Mariner Josh Rojas mentioned a lack of communication regarding a potential reunion with Seattle.