MLB's stunning All-Star Game announcement is good news for Mariners' Cal Raleigh

In case you haven't noticed, it has been a great year for Cal Raleigh. He signed a nine-figure extension, has been on a torrid MVP pace, committed to playing for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, earned his first ever All-Star nomination, and just became the first ever catcher to win the Home Run Derby.

Things have been clicking for the 28-year old, and fans who somehow haven't gotten a chance to witness his skillset just yet will get to see him face off against the National League's best talent in tonight's All-Star Game. While his 190 OPS+ and 38 home runs have put him on the map for his bat, the introduction of a new technology into this year's Midsummer Classic could remind everyone that his defensive skills aren't too shabby either.

All-Star Game viewers will get a glimpse of Cal Raleigh's ABS skills

Last week, MLB announced that the ABS system will be in use in this year's All-Star game. ABS, or Automated Ball Strike, will be implemented in the same partial capacity that the league used during spring training.

That means home plate umpires will still call balls and strikes as per usual, but if a pitcher, catcher, or hitter feels that an incorrect call has been made, they can simply tap their head to signal a challenge. The ABS system will then make a final decision on the pitch and if the call is confirmed, the challenge is lost and if the call is overturned, the team's challenge will be retained.

Raleigh was one of the best at challenging pitches during this year's spring training, at one point sporting a spotless record. While ABS may make it more difficult for defensive-minded catchers to steal strikes using framing, they can make up some of the difference by ensuring that all of the right calls are made.

Despite his unstoppable offensive output, it was just last season that Cal Raleigh earned a Platinum Glove for his efforts behind the dish, largely due to have 13 Framing Runs Above Average. He hasn't been quite as dominant with the glove this year, but he's still in the top quartile of qualified catchers.

One might figure that the use of ABS at a single exhibition game doesn't mean much, but it serves as an encouraging sign that MLB is hoping to roll out the system across the big leagues sooner rather than later. Fans have already responded to the technology quite positively and since Raleigh has already demonstrated the ability to use it to his advantage, it's likely that he'll be even an more valuable asset once it gets fully installed.