Mariners' Cal Raleigh is putting even all-time greats to shame with his home run pace

The Cal Raleigh AL MVP challenge continued to build frightening momentum on Monday night at T-Mobile Park. He hit his 33rd home run of the season to help the Seattle Mariners beat the Kansas City Royals 6-2.

In so doing, Raleigh continued to make slugging history as a switch-hitter, as Sarah Langs of MLB.com explained:

To be ahead of the likes of Mickey Mantle and Chipper Jones really is something else, when you consider they are two of the very best switch-hitters in Major League history. It also makes you wonder about where Raleigh might be come season's end, with Mantle's 54 home runs in 1961 standing as the most ever in a year by a switch-hitter.

As per ESPN, Raleigh's home run off Royals reliever Daniel Lynch IV in the seventh inning prompted chants of "MVP! MVP!" from the home crowd. Teammate Randy Arozarena — who had two home runs himself on Monday night — said: "Everyone is just kind of amazed of what he's been able to accomplish this season."

Cal Raleigh keeping special company

"Accomplish" also seems like an undersell for what Raleigh has achieved in 2025, with his 33 home runs tying Sammy Sosa and a certain Ken Griffey Jr. for the third-most ever before July in Major League history. Only Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire have hit more, with 39 in 2001 and 37 in 1998 respectively.

Perhaps best encapsulating the absurdity of this magical season Raleigh is having, is that his next home run would equal the career high he set just last year. And it becomes even more surreal when you consider he's currently projected to finish this season with 64 homers, which would surpass the all-time AL record of 62 set by Aaron Judge in 2022.

Raleigh currently leads the majors with his 33 home runs (and 71 RBI) and the thinking is he's going to drop off his current pace at some point. However, even if he does he still has an excellent chance to chase down two Griffey Mariners marks and one Major League record.

Chasing down a Mariners legend

The first is Griffey's club record of 35 home runs before the All-Star Break, with Raleigh still having 12 games before this year's festivities in Atlanta. The other record which can feasibly be chased down is the Hall of Famer's 56 home runs in a season which he achieved twice, in 1997 and 1998.

As for the Major League record, the most ever home runs by a catcher in baseball history is 48 by Salvador Perez, set in 2021 while with the Royals and surpassing the long-time record of 45 held by Johnny Bench. That all three of these records seem realistic for Raleigh to chase down, really does encapsulate just how phenomenal he's been so far this season and how much confidence people have in him.

Of course, no one knows for sure how this is all going to play out, but there's little denying the Mariners would not be in playoff contention is Raleigh wasn't exceeding expectations. He's going to play in his first ever All-Star Game and he's competing in the Home Run Derby. When it's all said and done, he may complete the greatest ever season by a catcher in Major League history.