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Cal Raleigh

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Cal Raleigh
Seattle Mariners – No. 29
Catcher
Born: (1996-11-26) November 26, 1996 (age 28)
Cullowhee, North Carolina, U.S.
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 11, 2021, for the Seattle Mariners
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.218
Home runs93
Runs batted in251
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Caleb John Raleigh (born November 26, 1996), nicknamed "Big Dumper",[1][2] is an American professional baseball catcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021.

Amateur career

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Raleigh attended Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva, North Carolina. In his senior season, he hit .469 with 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases and was named an All-American by Louisville Slugger, MaxPreps, and Under Armour.[3][4] He was named a conference player of the year in baseball and basketball. After originally committing to play for Clemson, Raleigh attended Florida State University (FSU), playing college baseball for the FSU Seminoles.[4][5][6] In 2016, he started all but one game and hit .301 with a .412 on-base percentage and was named a freshman All-American by Baseball America, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Louisville Slugger, and Perfect Game. That summer, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, struggling to a .204 batting average. He had several dramatic hits in 2017, including driving in the winning run in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, driving in the tying run in the Super Regional final against Sam Houston State, and hitting a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of a College World Series game against the LSU Tigers.[3] In 2018, his final year at FSU, he slashed .326/.447/.583 with 13 home runs and 54 RBIs in 62 games.[7]

Professional career

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Minor leagues (2018–2021)

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Raleigh was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the third round, with the 90th overall pick, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[8] He signed with the Mariners, receiving a $854,000 signing bonus.[9] Raleigh made his professional debut that summer with the Low-A Everett AquaSox, batting .288 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs in 38 games. He started 2019 with the High-A Modesto Nuts, where he was named a California League All-Star[10] before being promoted to the Double-A Arkansas Travelers in mid-July.[11] In 121 games for the two clubs, Raleigh slashed .251/.323/.497 with 29 home runs and 82 RBIs.[12]

Raleigh practiced and scrimmaged at the Mariners' alternate site in Tacoma in 2020[13] but did not play in a game because the minor league baseball season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] Raleigh returned to Tacoma to start 2021 with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, hitting .324/.377/.608 with nine home runs in 44 games.[15]

Seattle Mariners (2021–present)

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On July 11, 2021, Raleigh was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[16] He made his MLB debut that day, starting at catcher against the Los Angeles Angels, striking out twice in four hitless at bats.[17] Raleigh recorded his first career hits and RBIs with a two-RBI double and single against Germán Márquez of the Colorado Rockies on July 20.[18][19] On July 23, Raleigh hit his first MLB home run, a two-run, 444-foot blast off Oakland Athletics starter Frankie Montas.[20] Splitting time at catcher with Tom Murphy, Raleigh finished the 2021 season with a .180/.223/.309 slash line, 2 home runs, 13 RBIs, and 52 strikeouts in 47 games.[21]

Raleigh started 2022 continuing to struggle to make contact, with an .083 batting average and striking out in 32 percent of his plate appearances in his first nine games.[22] He was optioned down to Tacoma on April 28,[23] returning to the Mariners on May 7 after Murphy suffered a dislocated shoulder.[24] After another 10 games with a .091 average, Raleigh's bat blossomed, hitting .228 with an .854 on-base plus slugging and 24 home runs the rest of the season.[22][24][25] On September 30, Raleigh hit a pinch-hit, walk-off home run against the Athletics[26] to clinch the Mariners' first postseason appearance since 2001,[2] ending the longest active playoff drought amongst the four major North American sports leagues.[27] He would also have big hits in the postseason. In the Wild Card Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Raleigh hit a two-run home run off of Alek Manoah,[28] an RBI single off of Anthony Bass,[29] and scored the winning run in Game Two. His offense disappeared in the Division Series, as he went 1-for-14 in three consecutive losses to the Houston Astros.[30] Raleigh finished the 2022 regular season with a .211/.284/.489 slash line, 20 doubles, one triple, and 63 RBI in 119 games.[31] His 27 home runs led all MLB catchers and surpassed Mike Zunino for the most home runs by a Mariners catcher in a season.[32][33] He was a finalist at catcher for the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards, losing to Jose Trevino of the New York Yankees and Alejandro Kirk of the Toronto Blue Jays, respectively.[34][35][36][37]

On May 15, 2023, Raleigh became the first catcher to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game at Fenway Park, hitting his home runs in consecutive plate appearances.[38][39] In 145 games for Seattle in 2023, he batted .232/.306/.456 with 30 home runs and 75 RBI. When the Mariners were eliminated from postseason contention, Raleigh criticized the Mariners' lack of spending, saying "sometimes, you have to go out and you have to buy. That's just the name of the game."[40] He was a Silver Slugger finalist again in 2023.[41]

Raleigh broke a tooth after biting down on a sandwich on April 23, 2024. Despite severe pain, he hit a home run in that night's game against the Texas Rangers. He had oral surgery the following day, missing just one game before his return to catching.[42][43] On June 10, Raleigh hit a walk-off grand slam off Jordan Leasure, capping off a 8–4 comeback win over the Chicago White Sox.[44][45] Raleigh homered from both sides of the plate twice in July, on July 9 against the San Diego Padres, then two days later against the Angels.[46] In the Mariners' final game of 2024, Raleigh hit his 34th home run of the season[47] to reach 100 RBIs in a season for the first time in his career.[31] It was his 93rd career home run, topping Mike Piazza for the most home runs in a catcher's first four MLB seasons.[48] However, Raleigh hit 15 of his home runs as designated hitter or pinch hitter,[49] while Piazza hit only one home run while not playing catcher in his first four seasons.[50]

Raleigh hit .220/.312/.436 with a career high six stolen bases and 176 strikeouts in 2024.[31] He won the Gold Glove and Platinum Glove awards in 2024, becoming the first Mariner in franchise history to receive the latter honor.[51][52] He excelled at framing pitches.[53] He was a Silver Slugger finalist for the third consecutive year.[54]

Personal life

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Raleigh's parents are Stephanie and Todd Raleigh, and he has three siblings, Emma Grace, Carley, and Todd Jr. Many of his relatives also play baseball. His father coached college baseball for the Western Carolina Catamounts and Tennessee Volunteers[3] and was a catcher for Western Carolina from 1988 to 1991.[55] Raleigh's younger brother Todd Jr., nicknamed "T," is, like Cal, a switch-hitting catcher.[56] Raleigh's uncle Matt played in Minor League Baseball from 1992 to 2000 after playing alongside Todd at Western Carolina.[57] Raleigh's cousin and Matt's son, Brody, is an infielder at Western Carolina.[58]

As a child, Raleigh rooted for Jason Varitek and the Boston Red Sox.[38][59]

Raleigh's Big Dumper nickname, referring to his backside, was popularized by teammate Jarred Kelenic, who started using it in 2020[1] and tweeted it in 2021 when Raleigh was promoted to the Mariners.[60]

Raleigh completed his degree in business entrepreneurship from FSU in December 2020.[61]

On June 13, 2024, Raleigh had his head shaved by former Mariner Jay Buhner as part of the team's "Buhner Buzz Cut" promotion.[62]

References

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  1. ^ a b Brock, Corey (March 13, 2023). "Getting to the bottom of how the Mariners' Cal Raleigh got the nickname 'Big Dumper'". The Athletic. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Stone, Larry (September 30, 2022). "As if these Mariners could clinch a playoff berth with anything other than dramatics". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Cal Raleigh - 2018 - Baseball". Florida State University. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Pearson, Andrew (July 11, 2015). "Raleigh to Florida State". The Asheville Citizen Times. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  5. ^ McGahee III, Wayne. "Florida State's Cal Raleigh chasing improvement not pitches". Tallahassee.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  6. ^ Norris Goode, Tyler (June 1, 2018). "Ex-Smoky Mountain star Cal Raleigh is a hot MLB draft prospect". The Asheville Citizen Times. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  7. ^ Cotterill, TJ (June 5, 2018). "Meet the Seattle Mariners' 2018 draft selections". Kitsap Sun. The News Tribune. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  8. ^ Thompson, David (June 5, 2018). "Smoky Mountain's Cal Raleigh drafted by the Mariners". The Asheville Citizen Times. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  9. ^ "3rd Round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  10. ^ Jenkins, Erin (June 26, 2019). "Raleigh suits up for all-star game | Smoky Mountain". thesylvaherald.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  11. ^ Divish, Ryan (July 15, 2019). "Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto on Logan Gilbert and Cal Raleigh's promotion to Class AA: 'We're pumped'". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  12. ^ "Cal Raleigh Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  13. ^ Shusterman, Jordan (August 13, 2024). "How the Mariners' Logan Gilbert and Cal Raleigh developed alongside each other into foundational pieces of the team's success". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  14. ^ Todd, Jeff (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". mlbtraderumors.com.
  15. ^ Divish, Ryan. "With Tacoma Rainiers, Mariners prospects Jarred Kelenic, Cal Raleigh and Logan Gilbert are so close, yet so far". The Spokesman-Review. Seattle Times.
  16. ^ Crabtree-Hannigan, James (July 11, 2021). "Reports: Smoky Mountain alum Cal Raleigh called up by Mariners". Asheville Citizen Times. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  17. ^ "Los Angeles Angels vs Seattle Mariners Box Score: July 11, 2021". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  18. ^ "Seattle Mariners vs Colorado Rockies Box Score: July 20, 2021". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  19. ^ "Cal Raleigh plates two on a double to right-center | 07/20/2021". MLB.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  20. ^ "Cal Raleigh belts his first career home run | 07/23/2021". MLB.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  21. ^ "2021 Seattle Mariners Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Cal Raleigh 2022 Batting Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  23. ^ "Mariners Select Penn Murfee". MLB Trade Rumors. April 28, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  24. ^ a b Hanson, Scott (June 7, 2022). "It might not be a coincidence that the Mariners and catcher Cal Raleigh are surging at the same time". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on June 9, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  25. ^ Fernandez, Roshan (July 15, 2022). "How Cal Raleigh returned from a stint in the minors to find his offensive groove". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  26. ^ Seattle Mariners (September 30, 2022). FULL AT-BAT: Cal Raleigh Ends the Drought in Dramatic Fashion (Television production) – via YouTube.
  27. ^ "Raleigh's walk-off homer ends Mariners' long playoff drought". USA Today. Associated Press. Associated Press. October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  28. ^ "Cal Raleigh crushes a two-run home run in the 1st | 10/07/2022". MLB.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  29. ^ "Cal Raleigh swats an RBI single to left field | 10/08/2022". MLB.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  30. ^ "Cal Raleigh Postseason Batting Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  31. ^ a b c "Cal Raleigh Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  32. ^ Gustafson, Brandon (October 1, 2022). "Cal Raleigh's walkoff highlights how important he's become to Mariners". Seattle Sports 710AM. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  33. ^ "Major League Leaderboards - 2022 - Batting". FanGraphs Baseball. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  34. ^ "Here are the 2022 Gold Glove finalists". MLB.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  35. ^ "Here's a rundown of Silver Slugger finalists". MLB.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  36. ^ "Gold Glove Awards announced, with 14 first-time winners". MLB.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  37. ^ "Here are the 2022 Silver Slugger winners". MLB.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  38. ^ a b Kramer, Daniel. "Raleigh makes Fenway history, one-ups childhood hero". MLB.com. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  39. ^ "Raleigh belts a home run from each side of the plate | 05/15/2023". MLB.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  40. ^ Kramer, Daniel (October 1, 2023). "Too-early end to season has Raleigh, Mariners wanting more". MLB.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  41. ^ "2023 Silver Slugger Finalists Announced!". MiLB.com. November 2, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  42. ^ "Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh describes painful broken tooth ordeal in Texas". The Seattle Times. April 25, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  43. ^ "Cal Raleigh 2024 Batting Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  44. ^ Kirshenbaum, Josh (July 11, 2024). "From Raley to Raleigh, Mariners' grand rally one for the ages". mlb.com. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  45. ^ "Raleigh's walk-off grand slam | 06/10/2024". MLB.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  46. ^ "Cal Raleigh homers from each side of the plate for the 2nd time in 3 days, Mariners rout Angels 11-0". AP News. July 12, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  47. ^ "Cal Raleigh's 93rd career home run | 09/29/2024". MLB.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  48. ^ Hereth, Zac. "Video: Cal Raleigh sets two new HR records with one swing". Seattle Sports. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  49. ^ "Cal Raleigh - Splits Tool". FanGraphs Baseball. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  50. ^ "Mike Piazza Home Runs | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  51. ^ Casella, Paul (November 3, 2024). "14 first-timers highlight 2024 Gold Glove winners". MLB.com. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  52. ^ "Seattle Mariners Catcher Cal Raleigh Makes Franchise History with Platinum Glove Award". Seattle Mariners On SI. November 9, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  53. ^ "Major League Leaderboards - 2024 - Fielding". FanGraphs Baseball. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  54. ^ "Silver Slugger Award finalists announced". MLB.com. November 4, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  55. ^ "Todd Raleigh - Baseball Coach". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  56. ^ Divish, Ryan (May 20, 2023). "Attending Cal Raleigh's brother's baseball game reveals a 13-year-old with striking similarities". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  57. ^ "Matt Raleigh Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  58. ^ "Brody Raleigh - 2025 - Baseball". Western Carolina University. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  59. ^ Scotchie, Luke (October 2, 2023). "Watch: George Kirby throws knuckleball as tribute to Tim Wakefield". Boston.com. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  60. ^ Jarred Kelenic [@jarredkelenic] (July 11, 2021). "Big dumper to the show🥺" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 29, 2024 – via Twitter.
  61. ^ "Cal Raleigh Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  62. ^ "Cal Raleigh gets a trim as Mariners celebrate 30th anniversary of "Buhner Buzz Cut" night". AP News. June 14, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
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