THE CASE FOR CAL RALEIGH

Catchers are just built differently. And then there's Cal Raleigh. The 28-year-old Mariners backstop did things in 2025 that would have seemed impossible a year ago. But Raleigh is just built differently.

- by MATT EDDY

Catchers rarely win major awards, mostly on account of playing time disadvantages and the blunting effect of the battering they take behind the plate.

Only Joe Mauer in 2009 and Buster Posey in 2012 have won the writers' MVP vote in the 21st century. In the expansion era, the list expands by just four names: Ivan Rodriguez in 1999, Thurman Munson in 1976, Johnny Bench in 1970 and '72 and Elston Howard in 1963.

Baseball America chose Aaron Judge as its Player of the Year, but it was not a unanimous decision. Here are the main pillars in the case for Cal Raleigh.

Season Shorthand

When fans reflect on the 2025 season, Raleigh's American League-leading 60 home runs will be one of its most memorable aspects. He also led the AL with 125 RBIs.

Raleigh's 60 homers are the most ever for a primary catcher, topping the 48 that Salvador Perez hit in 2021. Raleigh's .342 isolated slugging percentage is the highest ever for a primary catcher with 500 plate appearances, topping Roy Campanella in 1953 (.299) and Johnny Bench in 1970 (.294).

Raleigh also holds the single-season home run record for a player in the lineup at catcher. He hit 49 of his 60 homers while playing catcher, topping the 42 Javy Lopez hit in 2003. Campanella, Todd Hundley and Mike Piazza (twice) are the only other players ever to reach 40 homers in a season while in the lineup at catcher.