Mariners fans need to get a load of wild new Cal Raleigh projections

Last season was an extremely special one for Cal Raleigh. He set several career highs, including a 4.7 WAR, 34 home runs and 100 RBI, as the general public and media finally acknowledged his standing as one of the best catchers in the game.

This was highlighted by Raleigh winning his first ever Gold and Platinum Gloves, while he also surpassed Hall of Famer Mike Piazza for the most ever home runs by a catcher in his first four Major League seasons. The question now is: What the heck is he going to do for an encore?

Well, if an article by David Schoenfield ESPN is any indication, the 28-year-old might actually be set to have an even better season in 2025. Schoenfield ran through 25 simulated MLB seasons using the Out of the Park Baseball game, and the Mariners' clubhouse leader was among 12 players whose results stood out most.

Cal Raleigh is going to win what?!?!

Raleigh's numbers indeed catch the eye, as he was given a projected stat line of. 253/.330/.552 with 43 home runs, 102 RBIs and 6.8 WAR. And to top it all off, MVP honors ahead of the likes of Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr.

The RBI total is undoubtedly attainable, and the homers aren't too far- fetched for a player who has seen this number increase every season he's played so far. As for Raleigh's projected slash line, however, the batting average will be tough to achieve, giving the combination of his career .218 mark and having to hit at T-Mobile Park on a regular basis.

Yet even if the 2018 third-round draft pick gets anywhere close to his projected slash line, he's going to be having a special season regardless. Which brings us to the standout highlight of him winning the AL MVP Award.

As Schoenfield notes, it's almost impossible for a catcher to be win MVP honors these days, with only Joe Mauer and Buster Posey having achieved the feat this century. However, as alluded to with the 6.7 WAR projection, Raleigh would seem to have a genuine chance just by virtue of his value upside.

A leader for the Mariners both on and off the field of play

The Cullowhee, North Carolina native is of the old school way of the likes of his namesake Cal Ripken Jr., in wanting to playing all the time and truly loving the game of baseball. Back this up with the Mariners being reluctant to give him any days off, just because of how important and good he is. (Although we would also add about the team not have a reliable bona fide backup catcher.)

Last season saw Raleigh play in a career-high 153 games and even garner enough support to finish 12th in AL MVP voting. The only real concern in all of this is that he might break down at some point because of how much he plays.

Now yes, it will take other Mariners stepping up to help the cause, including needing a full year of consistency from Julio Rodríguez — who has himself been predicted elsewhere to win AL MVP. Schoenfield also comments on the hopeful benefit of full seasons in Seattle from fellow outfielders, Randy Arozarena and Victor Robles.

The point in all of this is that Raleigh has been able to produce regularly, nowhere moreso than last season, despite the Mariners having one of the poorest offenses in all of baseball. Now imagine how much more productive he will be if enough of his teammates step up and do their part, and you can begin to visualise why his winning the AL MVP Award might not be that inconceivable after all.

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