Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh etched his name into baseball history on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium, becoming the most powerful switch-hitter in Major League Baseball history. Raleigh’s 55th home run of the season officially surpassed Mickey Mantle’s long-standing record of 54 home runs by a switch-hitter, which had stood since 1961.
The record-breaking blast came in the third inning against Kansas City Royals starter Michael Wacha, as Raleigh connected on a hanging curveball while batting left-handed. The ball traveled 419 feet down the right-field line, leaving his bat at 109.5 mph and marking a historic moment that had been 64 years in the making.
But Raleigh wasn’t finished making history. Just one inning later, batting from the right side of the plate, he launched his 56th home run of the season off reliever Daniel Lynch IV. This second blast traveled 424 feet to center field and tied him with Seattle legend Ken Griffey Jr. for the most home runs in a single season in Mariners franchise history. Griffey achieved the 56-home run mark in both 1997 and 1998.
The achievement is particularly remarkable given the rarity of switch-hitting power. Raleigh became only the second switch-hitter in MLB history to reach 50 home runs in a single season, joining Mantle as the exclusive members of this elite club. His 55th home run marked his 35th of the season batting left-handed, while also representing his 44th home run while playing catcher, which was already a single-season record for the position.
The historic night came during Seattle’s 12-5 victory over Kansas City, extending the Mariners’ winning streak to 10 games. The team currently leads the AL West with an 82-68 record and appears poised for a playoff berth. Raleigh’s teammate Dominic Canzone also had a memorable night, going 5-for-5 with three home runs, though his performance was overshadowed by Raleigh’s record-setting achievement.
Raleigh’s journey to this historic moment wasn’t without drama. Earlier in the game, he took a pitch from Mariners starter Logan Gilbert that bounced off the plate and struck his neck, leaving a visible red welt. Despite the painful incident, Raleigh remained in the game and proceeded to make baseball history.
The 27-year-old catcher has been remarkably humble about his record-breaking season. Standing in a tunnel beneath Kauffman Stadium after his 20th career multi-homer game and 10th of the season, Raleigh reflected on the achievement: “It’s really cool. I’m humbled by it. A crazy kind of thing I never thought would happen. Just taking it day-by-day, pitch-by-pitch. Really enjoying every day with these guys, and just trying to finish the season strong.”
Mariners manager Dan Wilson praised Raleigh’s approach to the historic milestone, noting his humility and team-first mentality. “I think he’s approached this from Day 1 with a ton of humility,” Wilson said. “That’s the kind of person he is. His desire is to win, and that’s what he wants to do here in Seattle is win. Cal just continues to check off these milestones, and he does it with such a humble heart.”
With 12 games remaining in the regular season, Raleigh sits three home runs ahead of the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber for the major league lead. He also stands just seven home runs shy of matching Aaron Judge’s American League record of 62 home runs, set in 2022. The possibility of reaching that milestone adds another layer of excitement to an already historic season.
This achievement represents more than just individual success; it symbolizes the Mariners’ resurgence as a franchise. The team’s 10-game winning streak is their longest since July 2022, and Raleigh’s power surge has been instrumental in their playoff push. For a franchise that has endured long stretches without postseason success, Raleigh’s record-breaking performance provides hope and excitement for both the team and its fanbase.