Seattle Mariners’ star Cal Raleigh delivered the hardest home run of his career on July 4, 2025, solidifying his remarkable season. During the Mariners’ game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at T-Mobile Park, Raleigh struck a powerful home run off left-hander Bailey Falter that reached an exit velocity of 115.2 mph, the highest recorded in his career.
Known as “The Big Dumper,” Raleigh connected on a 92 mph fastball in the first inning with a 3-1 count, driving the ball 410 feet toward the upper deck in left field. Although the ball was contained within the stadium, its force and speed underscored Raleigh’s growing strength at the plate and his ongoing development this season.
Matching and Challenging Career Milestones
This fourth-of-July homer marked Raleigh’s 34th home run of the season, tying his personal best set the previous year. With nearly three months left before the season concludes, he has ample time to surpass this career-high total. Raleigh’s home run totals are evenly split between hitting from the right and left sides, as this was his 13th homer hit right-handed this year—the same distribution he posted last season.
His improvement as a right-handed batter is notable, boasting a .323 batting average coming into this game compared to .246 from the left side. These numbers represent a significant development from 2024, when his right-handed average was just .183 against .234 from left-handed at-bats.
Leading MLB and Breaking Records for Catchers and Switch-Hitters
Raleigh currently leads Major League Baseball in home runs, and his two-run blast against the Pirates boosted his RBI total to 73, trailing only Chicago Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki by one. He continues to set new marks, including records for the most home runs before the All-Star break for both catchers and switch-hitters.
In addition to personal achievements, Raleigh’s performance has secured him the American League Player of the Month award for June, and he is slated to start as catcher for the AL in the upcoming MLB All-Star Game, affirming his status as one of the league’s top players this season.
Outlook for the Mariners and Upcoming Games
The Mariners began a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on the day of Raleigh’s milestone home run, with the second game scheduled for Saturday evening. Fans can tune in to Seattle Sports radio at 5:30 p.m. for the pregame coverage before the 6:40 p.m. start.
As the Mariners navigate the remainder of the season, Raleigh’s power hitting remains a key focus. His continued success at the plate will be crucial to Seattle’s push in the standings, while fans and analysts alike watch his home run total climb, anticipating whether he can surpass his career highs in the months ahead.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is Cal Raleigh the big dumper?
A. Raleigh earned the “Big Dumper” nickname, related to his backside, from Jarred Kelenic in 2020. Kelenic tweeted it in 2021 when Raleigh joined the Mariners. Raleigh’s mother isn’t fond of the nickname but values the fans’ encouragement.
Q. How much is Cal Raleigh paid?
A. JT Realmuto from the Phillies has a contract of $115.5 million from 2021 to 2025. Cal Raleigh from the Mariners signed for $105 million from 2025 to 2030.
Q. How much does Cal Raleigh earn?
A. Upon the contract’s approval by the commissioner’s office, he will receive a signing bonus of $10 million.
His salary will be $1 million this year, $11 million in 2027, and $12 million in 2028.
For each of the following three seasons, his salary increases to $23 million.
Q. Is Cal Raleigh good?
A. Cal Raleigh, the catcher for the Seattle Mariners, has been honored for his outstanding performance at the beginning of this season. On Wednesday, Raleigh was chosen to start in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, marking his first All-Star selection after being voted as the top catcher in the American League.