Bronx Bombshell: Yankees’ Brad Ausmus Declares AL MVP Race “Not Even Close” as Mariners’ Cal Raleigh Shatters Mickey Mantle’s Legendary Home Run Record
The Major League Baseball season is reaching its fever pitch, and once again the race for the American League Most Valuable Player is dominating the headlines. While fans and analysts across the country debate statistics, storylines, and historical context, New York Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus has dropped a stunning verdict that has sent shockwaves through the baseball world.
In a candid and unapologetic assessment, Ausmus declared that the AL MVP race is “not even close,” insisting that one player has elevated himself so far above the rest that the decision should be a formality. His blunt words arrived at a moment when another headline-making feat captured the imagination of fans everywhere: Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh surpassing none other than Yankees icon Mickey Mantle for the most home runs in a single season by a switch-hitter.
The convergence of these two narratives—Ausmus’s unwavering stance and Raleigh’s historic power surge—has created a storm of debate that stretches far beyond the Bronx or the Pacific Northwest.
Known for his sharp baseball intellect and willingness to speak directly, Brad Ausmus didn’t mince words when asked about the MVP picture. In his view, there is no dramatic battle, no thrilling head-to-head showdown. Instead, he insists that one star’s performance has towered over the rest of the field.
“Sometimes people want to create a race because it’s exciting for the fans and the media,” Ausmus said. “But if you look at the numbers, the consistency, and the impact, it’s not even close. There’s a clear MVP in this league right now.”
He refused to single out names during the moment, but Yankees insiders believe his comments were a defense of his own star slugger—suggesting that despite Raleigh’s historic achievement, the Bronx deserves the crown.
While Ausmus’s bold remarks were enough to spark headlines, Cal Raleigh’s jaw-dropping milestone ensured that the conversation would not fade quickly. By belting his latest home run, Raleigh etched his name in baseball history by surpassing Mickey Mantle—a player revered not just by Yankees fans, but by all of baseball—for the most single-season home runs by a switch-hitter.
Mantle, who defined the golden era of Yankee dominance in the 1950s and 1960s, long stood as the standard-bearer for switch-hitting greatness. To eclipse his mark is no small feat, and Raleigh’s accomplishment cements him as one of the premier power hitters of his generation.
Even more impressive is the manner in which Raleigh has carried the Mariners on his back throughout the season. His power has been consistent, his leadership unquestioned, and his role as the heartbeat of Seattle’s resurgence undeniable.
The result is a narrative collision that feels almost too perfect for the modern game: a Yankees coach standing defiantly behind his team’s MVP hopeful while, at the same time, a Mariners catcher rewrites the record books once held by a Yankees legend.
For Yankee fans, Ausmus’s words are a rallying cry—a reminder that greatness still wears pinstripes. For Seattle fans, Raleigh’s moment is validation, proof that their star has stepped into the realm of baseball immortality.
The MVP award has always been about more than numbers. It is about storylines, symbolism, and significance. Ausmus may believe the race is already decided, but Raleigh’s historic achievement ensures that voters will face a tougher decision than his comments suggest.
One cannot ignore the power of history when it comes to baseball. To surpass Mickey Mantle, especially as a switch-hitter, resonates deeply. It is not simply another stat; it is a symbolic passing of the torch.
As the season barrels toward its climax, the debate will only intensify. Is the MVP a measure of dominance, as Ausmus insists? Or is it also about historical moments that define an era, like Raleigh’s feat against Mantle’s ghost?
One thing is clear: Brad Ausmus has drawn his line in the sand, and Cal Raleigh has drawn his name into baseball’s most exclusive club. Whether the voters side with Bronx bravado or Pacific Northwest power, this MVP race—despite Ausmus’s insistence otherwise—feels far from over.
