Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh On Pace to Make History By With Power and Defense

Cal Raleigh currently leads MLB catchers in home runs and caught stealings, a feat that hasn't been achieved since Mike Piazza in 1993.

Cal Raleigh is on the verge of making history at and behind the plate.

The Seattle Mariners catcher got the day off Wednesday against the Houston Astros – missing out on most of the extracurriculars between the two division rivals as a result – which was a rare breather for the young slugger. Raleigh has broken out in his second full MLB season, playing a major part in Seattle's ongoing playoff push as it nears its end.

Raleigh currently leads all major league catchers with 30 home runs, as well as 24 caught stealings. According to the Mariners' PR department, Raleigh could become the first catcher to finish the season leading the position in both categories since Mike Piazza in 1993.

New York Mets rookie Francisco Álvarez and Astros rookie Yanier Diaz rank second among catchers with 23 homers each. The Oakland Athletics' Shea Langeliers, meanwhile, is just one caught stealing behind Raleigh with 23 on the season.

Cal Raleigh leads @MLB catchers in home runs (30) & catcher caught stealings (24) this season.

Cal could become the first catcher to lead the Majors in both in a season since Mike Piazza in 1993.

— Mariners PR (@MarinersPR) September 27, 2023

Raleigh has been red-hot at the plate as of late, batting .280 with an .896 OPS over his last 36 games while racking up 10 home runs and 24 RBI in that span. On the season, Raleigh is hitting .235 with 75 RBI and a .780 OPS, all of which are career-highs for the 26-year-old catcher.

Behind the dish, Raleigh has caught 12 base stealers just since Sept. 5, including three in his last four games.

Raleigh ranks third among Mariners position players with a 3.2 WAR, trailing only Julio Rodriguez and JP Crawford.

Seattle lost to Houston without Raleigh on Wednesday, putting them 1.5 games back of the third and final AL Wild Card spot. The Mariners only have four games left to make up the gap, starting with a matchup against the Texas Rangers at 9:40 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Raleigh is expected to rejoin the lineup for the series opener.

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