Seattle Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh secured his spot in the Home Run Derby final at Truist Park in Atlanta, showcasing his powerful hitting ability. Raleigh overcame a tough semifinal round, delivering 19 towering home runs to defeat Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder O’Neil Cruz, who hit 13, and is now set to face Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero in the championship matchup.
Impressive Power Display in Semifinals
Raleigh’s performance in the semifinals featured remarkable distance and consistency. Out of the 19 home runs he launched, all but two traveled more than 400 feet, and thirteen of those went beyond 425 feet. Known as a switch-hitter, Raleigh chose to hit exclusively from the left side during this round, emphasizing his left-handed power strength.
Narrow Escape into Semifinals with Tiebreaker Victory
Raleigh’s journey to the semifinals nearly ended sooner, as he finished the first round tied with the Athletics’ Brent Rooker at 17 home runs each. The Mariners catcher edged out Rooker on the longest home run tiebreaker by a razor-thin margin—470.61 feet compared to Rooker’s 470.53 feet. This fraction of less than an inch allowed Raleigh to continue competing.
During the first round, Raleigh demonstrated his versatility by hitting eight home runs left-handed before switching to the right side, where he added seven more homers. He then returned to batting left-handed for the bonus round.
Bonus Round Performance Secures Spot in Semifinals
The bonus round, which is untimed and ends after three outs, played a crucial role in Raleigh advancing. The format rewards an additional out for any home run longer than 425 feet. Raleigh hit two such home runs during this period, matching Rooker’s total and ensuring his passage along with Cruz, Caminero, and Minnesota’s Byron Buxton.
Family Support and Ambition to Make Mariners History
Adding a personal touch to Raleigh’s derby run, his father, Todd Sr., served as his pitcher while his younger brother, Todd Jr., acted as his catcher. Raleigh is aiming to become just the second Mariner to win the Home Run Derby, an event Ken Griffey Jr. famously won three times in 1994, 1998, and 1999.
Season Success Boosting Raleigh’s Confidence
This season, Raleigh leads Major League Baseball with 38 home runs, setting a new record for an American League player before the All-Star break. He is just one home run shy of tying the overall <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB record at this point in the season, reinforcing his status as one of the game’s most formidable power hitters.
Upcoming Final Showdown and Its Significance
In the finals, Raleigh will face off against Junior Caminero, who also brings considerable power and skill to the derby. A victory for Raleigh would mark a historic milestone for the Mariners franchise as they seek their second Home Run Derby champion. Beyond personal achievement, triumph here could further energize Mariners fans and highlight Raleigh’s growing reputation across the league.
“Raleigh put on a show during the semifinals with a round-high 19 home runs to beat out Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder O’Neil Cruz’s 13 in a head-to-head matchup.” — Source Content
“All but two of the 19 home runs Raleigh hit in the semifinals traveled at least 400 feet.” — Source Content
“Raleigh just squeezed by with a long of 470.61 feet. Rooker was less than one-tenth of a foot behind at 470.53 feet.” — Source Content
“Raleigh is competing in the derby with his dad, Todd Sr., as his pitcher and little brother, Todd Jr., as his catcher.” — Source Content
“Raleigh leads MLB with 38 home runs this season, which is a record for American League players and one shy of the MLB record by the All-Star break.” — Source Content
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is Cal Raleigh the big dumper?
A. The nickname first became popular thanks to Jarred Kelenic, a former teammate of Raleigh. When Raleigh got called up to the Mariners, Kelenic tweeted, “Big dumper to the show.” Thus, a superhero story began.
Q. How much is Cal Raleigh paid?
A. Once the commissioner’s office approves the contract, he will receive a $10 million signing bonus. His salary will be $1 million this year, $11 million in 2027, $12 million in 2028, and $23 million annually for the next three years.
Q. Is Cal Raleigh any good?
A. After playing 94 games, Cal Raleigh is leading in Major League Baseball with 38 home runs and 81 RBIs. He has a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 6.2, according to FanGraphs. This is the second highest in MLB this season, behind only Aaron Judge’s 7.1. Among catchers since 2015, his ranking is fourth for a full season.
Q. How much does Cal Raleigh make?
A. Catcher Cal Raleigh has agreed to a $105 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. The new contract will last for six years. This agreement replaces a previous one-year deal worth $5.6 million that was made on January 9 to bypass salary arbitration.