Cal Raleigh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cal Raleigh |
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| Seattle Mariners – No. 29 | |||
| Catcher | |||
| Born: November 26, 1996 Cullowhee, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 11, 2021, for the Seattle Mariners | |||
| MLB statistics (through May 7, 2025) |
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| Batting average | .220 | ||
| Home runs | 105 | ||
| Runs batted in | 276 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Caleb John Raleigh, born on November 26, 1996, is a professional baseball player. He is a catcher for the Seattle Mariners in Major League Baseball (MLB). Cal, as he's often called, first played in the MLB in 2021. In 2024, he won his first Gold Glove Award and the American League Platinum Glove Award. This award goes to the best defensive player in the league.
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Cal Raleigh's Early Baseball Days
Cal Raleigh grew up in Sylva, North Carolina. He went to Smoky Mountain High School. In his last year of high school, he was a fantastic player. He hit 10 home runs and stole 20 bases. Many groups, like Louisville Slugger, named him an All-American. He was also named player of the year in both baseball and basketball for his conference.
After high school, Cal went to Florida State University (FSU). He played college baseball for the FSU Seminoles. In 2016, he played almost every game. He was named a freshman All-American by several sports publications.
Cal had many exciting hits in 2017. He drove in the winning run in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. He also hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning during a College World Series game. In 2018, his final year at FSU, he hit 13 home runs and had 54 RBIs.
Cal Raleigh's Journey to the Pros
Starting in the Minor Leagues (2018–2021)
The Seattle Mariners picked Cal Raleigh in the third round of the 2018 MLB draft. He signed with the Mariners and started his professional career. He first played for the Everett AquaSox. He hit well with eight home runs in 38 games.
In 2019, he played for the Modesto Nuts and was named an All-Star. Later that year, he moved up to the Double-A Arkansas Travelers. Between these two teams, he hit 29 home runs and had 82 RBIs.
In 2020, the minor league season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cal practiced at the Mariners' training site. He returned to playing in 2021 with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. He hit nine home runs in 44 games before getting called up to the big leagues.
Playing for the Seattle Mariners (2021–Present)
Cal Raleigh made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut on July 11, 2021. He played catcher against the Los Angeles Angels. A few days later, he got his first hits and RBIs. On July 23, he hit his first MLB home run. It was a powerful, two-run blast. In his first season, he played 47 games.
In 2022, Cal struggled at first. He was sent down to the minor leagues but quickly returned. After that, his hitting improved a lot. He hit 24 home runs for the rest of the season. On September 30, Cal hit a huge home run. It was a "walk-off" home run, meaning it won the game. This win sent the Mariners to the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
He also had big hits in the playoffs. In the Wild Card Series, he hit a two-run home run and an RBI single. He scored the winning run in one game. Cal finished the 2022 season with 27 home runs. This was the most home runs by a Mariners catcher in one season. He was a finalist for the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.
On May 15, 2023, Cal made history at Fenway Park. He became the first catcher to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game there. In 2023, he hit 30 home runs and had 75 RBIs. He was a Silver Slugger finalist again.
In 2024, Cal Raleigh continued to make headlines. He broke a tooth but still hit a home run that night! He had surgery and only missed one game. On June 10, he hit a "walk-off grand slam." This means he hit a home run with the bases loaded to win the game. He hit home runs from both sides of the plate twice in July.
In the last game of 2024, Cal hit his 34th home run of the season. This helped him reach 100 RBIs for the first time in his career. He also reached 93 career home runs, which was a record for a catcher in their first four MLB seasons.
Cal had a great 2024 season. He won the Gold Glove and the Platinum Glove Award. He was the first Mariner ever to win the Platinum Glove. This award recognizes the best defensive player in the league. He was also a Silver Slugger finalist for the third year in a row.
In March 2025, Cal and the Mariners agreed to a long-term contract. On April 11, he became the Mariners' all-time home run leader among catchers. A few days later, he hit his 100th career home run. He was one of the fastest catchers in MLB history to reach 100 home runs.
Cal Raleigh's Life Off the Field
Cal Raleigh comes from a baseball family. His parents are Stephanie and Todd Raleigh. His father, Todd, coached college baseball and was also a catcher. Cal's younger brother, Todd Jr., is also a switch-hitting catcher. Many other relatives play baseball too.
When he was a kid, Cal cheered for the Boston Red Sox and their catcher, Jason Varitek.
Cal has a nickname, "Big Dumper." His teammate Jarred Kelenic started using it. Cal's mother thinks the nickname is funny but appreciates how much fans support her son.
Cal also has a college degree in business entrepreneurship from FSU. In June 2024, he even had his head shaved as part of a fun team event called "Buhner Buzz Cut Night."
