Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh etched his name into MLB lore at the 2025 Home Run Derby in Atlanta’s Truist Park. Battling eight of baseball’s most powerful hitters, Raleigh overcame stiff competition -including Oneil Cruz’s mammoth 513-foot shot- to emerge victorious in an electrifying final round. He secured the crown with an 18-15 win over Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, becoming the first-ever catcher and the first switch-hitter to claim Home Run Derby gold.
Raleigh’s journey to victory was nothing short of dramatic. He barely scraped through the first round, advancing on a tiebreaker by just 0-08 feet over Oakland’s Brent Rooker. In the semifinals, he outslugged Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz 19-13, proving his mettle under pressure.
Cal Raleigh’s record-breaking first-half capped by HR Derby
Raleigh entered the Derby riding a historic season wave. Leading MLB with 38 home runs at the All-Star break, he shattered franchise and league milestones. His win marks the first Mariners Home Run Derby champion since Ken Griffey Jr.’s 1999 triumph.
Beyond the Derby, Raleigh’s first-half performance has been jaw-dropping:
- MLB-leading 38 homers at midseason
- First catcher and switch-hitter ever to win HR Derby
- Names American League All-Star starter behind the plate
This season, Raleigh’s bat has been the most powerful in Seattle since Griffey’s heyday, and he continues to soldify his status among the game’s elite.
What’s next for Raleigh and Mariners?
The catcher’s dominance goes beyond solo achievements. His knack for launching moonshots behind the plate are transforming the Mariner’s trajectory. As the first catcher to win the Derby, his feat highlights both his raw power and the evolvoing role of whitch-hitting catchers in modern baseball.
Seattle fans can relive Griffey-era magic through Raleigh’s rise. His Derby title isn’t just a personal milestone, it’s a rallying cry for the city and a promising sign that the Mariners are primed to compete. After the All-Star break concludes, Seattle looks to channel that momentum and return to postseason prominence.
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