Cal Raleigh Crushes 60th Home Run, Strengthens Case for AL MVP Honors
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has officially launched himself into baseball’s most heated award debate. With two home runs on Wednesday night — his 59th and 60th of the season — Raleigh not only propelled the Mariners to victory but also firmly positioned himself as a leading contender for the American League Most Valuable Player award. For a catcher, traditionally valued more for defensive grit and handling a pitching staff, this kind of offensive explosion is nearly unprecedented.
Raleigh’s 60th blast came in the late innings of Seattle’s pivotal game against the Texas Rangers, cementing both the Mariners’ grip on the AL West division title and his personal case for history. The towering shot brought fans to their feet, echoing the loud, resonant statement he has been making all season: Cal Raleigh is more than just a reliable backstop. He’s one of the most feared hitters in the sport.
With the milestone, Raleigh became the first catcher in Major League Baseball history to record a 60-homer season. That distinction alone has changed the tenor of the MVP race. While sluggers like Aaron Judge have been at the center of baseball’s power-hitting conversation in recent years, Raleigh’s combination of position scarcity and offensive dominance is pushing him into rarefied air.
Judge, of course, reached his own milestone this week, hitting his 50th and 51st homers for the New York Yankees. The two are now locked in what could become one of the most compelling MVP races in recent memory. Judge leads in batting average and on-base percentage, but Raleigh’s historic total as a catcher brings a level of value voters cannot ignore.
The MVP award is not just about numbers; it’s about impact. Raleigh’s power has transformed Seattle’s lineup, forcing pitchers to adjust their entire approach when facing the Mariners. His consistency has anchored a team that has battled all season long with Houston and Texas for divisional supremacy. Now, with the AL West clinched, Raleigh’s fingerprints are all over Seattle’s success story.
What makes Raleigh’s candidacy even more persuasive is his endurance at one of the game’s most grueling positions. Catchers rarely produce eye-popping offensive numbers because of the physical toll of their duties behind the plate. For Raleigh to maintain such output while handling a pitching staff through the rigors of a 162-game season is nothing short of remarkable.
At this stage, Judge still has the edge in several traditional categories: batting average (.328), on-base percentage, and OPS. But Raleigh’s raw power output — especially reaching the iconic 60-homer threshold — cannot be understated. Historically, the 60-homer mark has been reserved for baseball’s most elite power hitters, from Babe Ruth to Roger Maris, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds. Raleigh has now joined that list, while also creating his own unique chapter as a catcher.
For the Mariners, this season has been about more than just Raleigh’s rise. The club’s success has been built on balanced pitching, timely hitting, and resilience in a division filled with perennial contenders. But make no mistake: Raleigh has been the heart of Seattle’s surge. His leadership, coupled with his historic bat, has energized a fan base that still remembers the team’s long postseason drought just a few years ago.
As the playoffs loom, Raleigh’s performance will carry even greater weight. Should he continue to hit with the same authority under October pressure, his MVP case will grow even stronger. The debate with Judge — and perhaps other contenders like Juan Soto — will likely go down to the wire.
Regardless of how the final vote turns out, Cal Raleigh’s 2025 season has already secured its place in baseball history. By crushing his 60th home run, he has shattered expectations for what a catcher can do offensively and reshaped the narrative of this year’s MVP race. Whether or not he hoists the hardware at season’s end, Raleigh’s name will be forever remembered alongside the great power hitters of the game.
