After hitting his league-leading 32nd home run on Monday night, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has sparked a growing Cal Raleigh MVP candidacy debate among baseball fans and analysts. Despite the cheers coming not from his home stadium but from Target Field in Minneapolis, Raleigh’s remarkable season is drawing national attention as he chases historic records and contends with New York Yankees star Aaron Judge for the American League MVP title.

Cal Raleigh’s Historic Home Run Pace Grabs Fans’ Attention

Raleigh’s power at the plate is unprecedented for a catcher and switch-hitter this MLB season. On pace to break major league records in both categories, as well as the American League home run record, his performance has ignited enthusiasm beyond Seattle’s T-Mobile Park, evident in the chants from crowds in cities like Minneapolis and Chicago. His growing reputation reflects his significant impact in a lineup that features dynamic teammate Julio Rodríguez hitting ahead of him.

Statistical Comparison Highlights Judge’s Offensive Edge

Despite Raleigh’s impressive four-home-run advantage and six additional RBIs over Judge this season, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan emphasized on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk that Judge maintains superior numbers in critical offensive metrics. Judge leads the AL with a batting average of .367 and has a slash line of .367/.468/.734, boasting a 1.202 OPS. Raleigh’s slash line, while strong, is lower at .278/.383/.665 with a 1.048 OPS. Passan pointed out that Judge’s higher on-base and slugging percentages—80 and 70 points higher, respectively—make his candidacy statistically more favorable at this stage.

Defensive Excellence and Durability Add Weight to Raleigh’s Case

Passan acknowledged that Raleigh’s defensive skill set and ability to endure the demands of catching every day enhance his MVP credentials significantly.

“I am not taking a single thing away from Cal Raleigh,”

Passan said.

“I acknowledge his superior defense. I acknowledge how difficult it is to play catcher every day, and to do so at the volume he’s doing it is absolutely absurd. All those things warrant consideration in this case.”

However, he noted that Raleigh’s offensive numbers need to align more closely with Judge’s to solidify his position.

A Unique Narrative Could Boost Raleigh’s MVP Prospects

While Aaron Judge is often favored partly because of extensive East Coast media exposure and the New York hype, Raleigh enjoys a distinct kind of popularity that could work in his favor. Passan highlighted the enthusiasm fans have for Raleigh, nicknamed “Big Dumper,” praising his ability to hit home runs from both sides of the plate.

“Despite what everybody thinks about East Coast bias, about New York media, about all the rigamarole there, people love Cal Raleigh, man,”

Passan said.

“I don’t think that he’s going to have a narrative problem in the same way that others going up against the king of New York might have otherwise. The Cal Raleigh narrative right now is about as good as it gets.”

What the Future Holds for the MVP Race

Currently, Passan views Judge as the front-runner for the AL MVP, but the gap between him and Raleigh is narrowing, especially if Raleigh can continue to enhance his offensive output. The continued support from fans nationwide and Raleigh’s record-setting pace make the award race more unpredictable. This ongoing Cal Raleigh MVP candidacy debate reflects the excitement surrounding one of baseball’s most intense battles this season, with both players delivering historic performances that could define their careers.