USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Mariners Catcher Cal Raleigh Joins Mike Piazza in Baseball History Books

Originally posted on FanNation Fastball | By Sam Connon | Last updated 10/26/23

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh set multiple team records in 2023, but his success at such a young age goes beyond the organization.

Raleigh blasted 30 home runs this year, exceeded his previous career-high of 27 from the year before. Since making his big league debut in 2021, Raleigh has hit 59 home runs.

According to Luke Arkins of the Mariners Consigliere newsletter, that ranks second all-time among catchers through three MLB seasons. Raleigh only trails Mike Piazza, a 12-time All-Star and 10-time Silver Slugger who went on to make the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

More home runs by a catcher through his first three MLB seasons...#Mariners pic.twitter.com/RI8KIsZb15
— Luke Arkins (@luke_arkins) October 26, 2023

This isn't the first time Raleigh has linked himself to Piazza in the record books, either. In late September, Raleigh was on pace to join Piazza as the only catchers to ever lead their position in home runs and caught stealings in the same year, although the Mariners rising star ultimately lost out on that distinction in the final weekend of the season.

In addition to his power, Raleigh has improved his batting average every year since joining the Mariners. Raleigh hit .180 in 2021, .211 in 2022 and .232 in 2023.

The 26-year-old ranked third among Mariners position players with a 3.2 WAR this season, which was actually a downgrade from his second-ranked 3.9 WAR in 2022.

Seattle has Raleigh under team control for another four years, but he will hit arbitration after next season. The front office already extended outfielder Julio Rodríguez and reliever Andrés Muñoz, and it handed out big money deals to Luis Castillo and Robbie Ray, but their commitments outside those four are limited after 2024.

This article first appeared on FanNation Fastball and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: