Mere

Cal Raleigh makes American League history before All-Star break with 38th home run

Cal Raleigh celebrating a home run with his teammates in a game against the Detroit Tigers (2025)
Cal Raleigh celebrating a home run with his teammates in a game against the Detroit Tigers (2025)Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP
Seattle Mariners star catcher Cal Raleigh (28) has been on an unprecedented tear this season and now it continues after hitting his 38th home run of the season on Friday night - marking the most homers before the All-Star break in American League history.

Raleigh, who will be in the 2025 Home Run Derby, blasted his 38th of the season during the top of the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers

The best part? It was a grand slam. 

This isn't the first instance of Raleigh making history this season. With his 28th and 29th home runs of the year on June 20th, Raleigh surpassed Cincinnati Reds catcher and Hall of Famer Johnny Bench for most home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break in MLB history. 

Raleigh now has not only 38 home runs on the year so far, but also leads the entire league with 81 RBI. He joins Yankees star Aaron Judge (1.187) as the only two players in the league with an OPS over 1.000, with Raleigh sitting at 1.022. 

The star catcher is having a career year across the board, putting up his best slashline (.264/.377/.645) yet. He now needs just 20 more RBI to surpass his career high (100) that he set last season. 

In 2024, Raleigh hit 34 home runs on the season. Now? He's about to reach 40 before the All-Star break. 

The Seattle Mariners currently sit in second place in the American League West division with a 49-45 record.