Raleigh is hitting .313 (5-for-16) with three doubles, one triple, two RBI and two runs across six Cactus League games.
The 26-year-old has made plenty of hard contact as that batting line corroborates, carrying over a favorable pattern that's been evident during Raleigh's first two big-league stints. The slugging backstop has impressively laced 62 of his 103 career big-league knocks to date for extra bases, and if he can pare down 2022's bloated 29.4 percent strikeout rate, he could certainly give himself a good chance of boosting last season's unsightly .211 average and .284 on-base percentage.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Looks good for spring camp
Rotowire
Raleigh (thumb) took live batting practice against Mariners reliever Diego Castillo on Monday and appears to be fully healthy for spring training, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Raleigh had already been catching bullpen sessions during the first couple weeks of camp in Arizona, but his ability to add batting practice to his workout regimen suggests that he's been cleared for full baseball activities after undergoing surgery in the fall to address a broken left thumb and a torn ligament in his hand. Coming off a 2022 campaign in which he hit just .211 but led all backstops with 27 home runs, Raleigh is likely to be drafted as a starting catcher in nearly every fantasy league.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: No issues in bullpen session
Rotowire
Raleigh (thumb) said Wednesday that he had no issues while catching a bullpen session Tuesday for pitcher Marco Gonzales, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Raleigh mentioned that he has more rehab and strengthening work to do before being cleared for full baseball activities, but the fact that the surgically repaired left thumb isn't hindering him from catching is a positive sign at the onset of spring training. The switch-hitting backstop underwent surgery in the fall after he played through the broken thumb and a torn ligament in his left hand late in the regular season and during Seattle's postseason run. Raleigh, who hit 27 home runs and batted .211 in 415 plate appearances in 2022, appears on track to be ready for Opening Day, but he may not be formally cleared until he appears in a Cactus League game.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Dealing with hand injury
Rotowire
Raleigh has been playing through a broken thumb and torn ligament in his left hand, Adam Jude of the Seattle Times reports.
After the Mariners were eliminated from the postseason, Raleigh disclosed that he played through the injuries for over a month. Though there's been no official word, he will likely need surgery this offseason to repair the issues.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Resting for regular-season finale
Rotowire
Raleigh is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
Raleigh will take a seat after he went 3-for-5 with a solo home run while serving as the Mariners' designated hitter in a 9-6 win in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader. Curt Casali will get a turn behind the dish Wednesday, while Carlos Santana reprises his usual duties at DH.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Collects three hits, homer
Rotowire
Raleigh went 3-for-5 with a solo home run in a 9-6 win in Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader.
Raleigh started at DH in the nightcap and delivered his second three-hit game of the season, singling in the third and sixth and cracking a solo shot in the fifth. The long ball was the backstop's 27th of the campaign, as four of his last eight hits have left the yard. Raleigh's .278 isolated power would rank fourth in MLB if he had enough plate appearances to qualify.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Sitting for matinee
Rotowire
Raleigh is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Tigers.
Curt Casali will start behind the dish and hit ninth. Look for Raleigh to get into the lineup for the nightcap.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Day off Saturday
Rotowire
Raleigh isn't in the lineup Saturday against Oakland.
Raleigh ended the Mariners' 21-year playoff drought with a walkoff home run in the ninth inning Friday, and he'll retreat to the bench for a second consecutive game. Luis Torrens is starting behind the dish and batting cleanup Saturday.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Sitting Friday
Rotowire
Raleigh will be on the bench Friday against Oakland.
Raleigh will hit the bench for the second time in three games, immediately following a stretch in which he started five out of six contests. Luis Torrens will catch for Logan Gilbert on Friday.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Out of Wednesday's lineup
Rotowire
Raleigh is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus Texas.
Raleigh returned to the lineup Tuesday and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout after he exited Sunday's contest with the lingering thumb injury. The 25-year-old will return to the bench Wednesday while Curt Casali receives a start behind the plate.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Returns to lineup Tuesday
Rotowire
Raleigh (thumb) is starting behind the plate and batting fifth Tuesday against the Rangers.
The 25-year-old exited Sunday's game due to his lingering thumb injury, but he's back in the lineup after Seattle had a scheduled day off Monday. Raleigh is 4-for-13 with two doubles, two home runs and six RBI over his past four contests, and it appears he'll continue to play through the injury down the stretch.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Departs with thumb issue
Rotowire
Raleigh was removed from Sunday's loss to the Royals after aggravating his thumb injury while catching, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.
Raleigh recently missed four games due to his thumb injury, and the thumb was hit while catching in the bottom of the sixth inning. Manager Scott Servais said that the catcher was OK during strength tests on the field and wanted to stay in, but the team ultimately replaced him in the top of the seventh inning. He should tentatively be considered day-to-day ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Rangers.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Doesn't start but plays hero
Rotowire
Raleigh went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and three total RBI in Saturday's 6-5 win against Kansas City.
Curt Casali got the start behind the plate for Seattle, but Raleigh came in to pinch hit for his fellow backstop in the sixth inning. The substitution paid immediate dividends, as Raleigh blasted a 444-foot two-run homer to right field to tie the score 5-5. He came through in the clutch again in the ninth inning, knocking a run-scoring double to plate the winning run. Raleigh leads all major-league catchers with 25 homers on the season and ranks sixth at the position with 59 RBI.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Sitting Saturday
Rotowire
Raleigh will be on the bench Saturday against the Royals.
Raleigh is a switch hitter, but he's been on the bench against the last four lefties the Mariners have faced, including Saturday's starter Kris Bubic. Curt Casali will get the nod behind the plate.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Blasts 24th homer
Rotowire
Raleigh went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and two strikeouts in a 5-1 loss to the Royals on Friday.
Raleigh's performance at the plate was a microcosm of his entire season: plenty of strikeouts combined with above-average power. The 25-year-old catcher has the second-most home runs hit from the position this year behind only Daulton Varsho. However, he also came into Friday night's game with an awful strikeout rate of 28.8%.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Plays full game behind dish in loss
Rotowire
Raleigh (thumb) started and played a full game at catcher in a loss to the Athletics on Wednesday, going 0-for-2 with a walk.
The backstop had missed four of the previous five games with his thumb injury, so his ability to put in a full game Wednesday was an encouraging development. Raleigh has now reached safely in three of his past four appearances, but overall this year it's his power (42 extra-base hits, including 23 home runs) has led to a .465 slugging percentage that's helped offset a forgettable .203 average and .278 OBP.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Sitting again Tuesday
Rotowire
Raleigh (thumb) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Athletics.
The 25-year-old will sit for the fourth time in the past five games as he continues to manage soreness after he jammed his left thumb last week. Raleigh should be considered day-to-day as Curt Casali receives another start behind the plate Tuesday.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Bothered by thumb, day-to-day
Rotowire
Mariners manager Scott Servais confirmed that Raleigh's absence from the lineup for Monday's series finale with the Angels is related to persistent soreness in the catcher's jammed left thumb, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.
Raleigh missed two games due to the issue before returning to action for Saturday's 2-1 win, and though he played the full contest, he'll be back on the bench Monday for the second straight game. Though Servais didn't officially rule Raleigh out for Tuesday's series opener in Oakland, Brock speculates that the young backstop won't be available. Curt Casali is replacing Raleigh behind the plate in Monday's contest.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Sitting again due to thumb
Rotowire
Raleigh is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.
Though the Mariners haven't indicated as much, Raleigh is believed to still be nursing the jammed left thumb that kept him out of the lineup for Friday's 8-7 win over the Angels, according to Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM. Raleigh returned to action Saturday, but he'll now be on the bench Monday for a second consecutive game. Curt Casali gets another turn behind the dish while Raleigh sits out.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: On base twice in return
Rotowire
Raleigh (thumb) went 1-for-3 with a walk in a loss to the Angels on Saturday.
Raleigh needed just one game off to recover from his jammed left thumb, reentering the lineup Saturday with a productive effort. The 25-year-old is putting together a serviceable September, posting a middling .243 average but complementing it with a .912 OPS thanks in large part to five extra-base hits (one double, four home runs) across 41 plate appearances.
