Catcher Cal Raleigh of the Mariners smashes the MLB single-half home run record for catchers in a season.
Catcher Cal Raleigh Breaks MLB Record with Historic First Half
Switch-hitting backstop Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners made a spectacular start to the 2025 season, smashing 30 home runs before the All-Star break — a new record for most long balls by a catcher in MLB history.
Raleigh's two-homer night against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 11, 2025, was nothing short of sensational. His first homer, a 381-foot blast off former teammate Matthew Boyd, far surpassed the previous record set by Johnny Bench in 1970. Raleigh tweaked Boyd's well-placed 95-mph fastball and sent it soaring to left-center.
What set Raleigh's achievement apart was the swiftness with which he shattered the record. Unlike Johnny Bench, who needed 87 games to reach the milestone back in '70, Raleigh managed it in just 73 games this season.
The second home run of the day against lefty reliever Caleb Thielbar didn't just break the record; it put Raleigh in the midst of an incredible chase for more records. His 419-foot shot to left field earned him the MLB single-season record for most first-half home runs by a catcher.
Raleigh's impressive performance didn't end with home runs; he also added a single and a walk, driving in three runs in the Mariners' 9-4 victory over the Cubs.
With numbers like these, it's no surprise that Raleigh has cemented his place as a legit contender for the AL MVP award. He's currently slashing .273/.379/.646 with 29 home runs, exceptional production for any player, not to mention a solid catcher.
Raleigh's pace suggests he's aiming for a staggering 64 home runs for the full season, which would break both the American League single-season home run record and the catcher home run record. The American League record of 62 homers was set by Aaron Judge in 2022, while Salvador Perez of the Royals holds the catcher record with 48 homers in 2021.
If Raleigh maintains his current form, he's set to create history and redefine the boundaries of home run hitting in baseball. Keep an eye on this star as the 2025 MLB season unfolds!
- Cal Raleigh, currently with the Seattle Mariners, broke the MLB record for most home runs by a catcher in a single season during the 2025 season.
- Raleigh's two-homer night against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 11, 2025, surpassed the previous record set by Johnny Bench in 1970.
- The second home run Raleigh hit against lefty reliever Caleb Thielbar earned him the MLB single-season record for most first-half home runs by a catcher in the 2025 season.
- If Cal Raleigh maintains his current form, he is on pace to break both the American League single-season home run record and the catcher home run record.
