Cal Raleigh has surged ahead as the MLB home run leader catcher, continuing to overpower the Chicago Cubs during their three-game series in Seattle. In the series opener on Friday, Raleigh hit his 28th and 29th home runs of the season, leading the Mariners to a 9-4 victory midway through June.
Raleigh opened the scoring with a towering fastball over the center field fence, giving Seattle an early 1-0 lead. He then broke a tied game in the seventh inning with a two-run homer to left field, extending Seattle’s advantage. This performance allowed Raleigh to surpass Hall of Famer Johnny Bench’s record for most home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break, a milestone still three weeks away.
Mariners Manager Praises Raleigh’s Batting Prowess
Seattle manager Dan Wilson emphasized Raleigh’s remarkable hitting ability, especially his timing against fast pitches.
“Staying on time for the heater is a must. If you’re on time for the heater, you can give yourself a chance with the other stuff. I think he’s just so dangerous because he’s tough to pitch to. He hits breaking balls, he hits the hard stuff. He hits just about everything, and he’s got power to all fields. He’s just a really difficult out,”
Wilson said.
Raleigh Reflects on Meeting Legend Johnny Bench
Last offseason, Raleigh had the opportunity to meet Johnny Bench at the Rawlings Gold Glove banquet, an experience he valued deeply. After Friday’s game, Raleigh shared,
“Got to spend two hours or so with him just talking baseball. It was like a dream come true. I was a little kid all over again. Really fun experience, and very grateful for that opportunity and I learned a lot.”
Raleigh credited his steady approach at the plate for his recent success.
“Trying to stay through the middle, looking for a mistake to hit,”
he explained.
“Sometimes pitchers will, sometimes they won’t. You tip the cap sometimes, and (Friday) I was able to jump on a few mistakes they made, and that’s what you’ve got to do. It’s a really tough league, really good pitchers out there.”
Cubs Turn to Rookie Cade Horton to Contain Raleigh
For Saturday’s game, the Cubs plan to start rookie right-hander Cade Horton, who will be making his first appearance against Seattle. Horton has posted a 3-1 record with a 3.47 ERA over seven starts this season and most recently pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings in a narrow 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 13.
Horton remembered his outing against the National League’s previous Rookie of the Year, Paul Skenes, saying,
“Being able to compete against him was really fun and, hopefully, we’re doing it for a lot of years.”
Chicago outfielder Ian Happ praised Horton’s mindset and presence on the mound.
“I think he has a really good mound presence, and he’s got the right attitude for it. And the ability to throw strikes and the ability to fill up the zone is super important. It helps him get some length into games,”
Happ noted.
Seattle Counters with Emerson Hancock on the Mound
The Mariners will start right-hander Emerson Hancock, who enters Saturday’s game with a 3-2 record and a 4.48 ERA. Hancock recently delivered a dominant performance, allowing only two hits and no runs over seven innings during a 6-0 win against the Cleveland Guardians last Sunday.
Hancock has faced the Cubs once this season, taking the loss in an April 13 start where he gave up two runs and four hits over six innings in a 4-1 Seattle defeat.
Outlook for the Series and Player Impact
As the Cubs search for a way to neutralize Cal Raleigh MLB home run leader catcher, Saturday’s matchup will test rookie Cade Horton’s ability to contain one of the most formidable hitters this season. The Mariners’ confidence in their lineup and pitching gives them momentum heading into the middle game of the series.
Raleigh’s record-breaking pace and consistent power demonstrate his growing prominence as a top catcher in the league, and this series highlights the challenge he poses to opposing pitchers. The ongoing duel between rising pitchers and established hitters like Raleigh adds intensity and excitement around this matchup.