Spring training data bombshell confirms Cal Raleigh's future value to Mariners

Cal Raleigh is renowned as one of the best overall catchers in the game, which is why the Seattle Mariners were prepared to sign him to a six-year, $105 million extension. Whether it's having the most ever home runs by a catcher in their first four Major League seasons or winning the AL Platinum Glove last year, he truly is a special player.

Well, now it seems that Raleigh may have yet another skill to bring to the playing field, and it could make him an even more invaluable commodity for the Mariners. It relates to the new Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), which was employed during spring training and with a goal of being used at the Major League level as soon as 2026.

In respect of the basic rules, each team began a game with two challenges, but lost them if the umpire's call was confirmed. Batters, pitchers, and catchers were allowed to challenge the original ruling.

Cal Raleigh shows excellent decision-making for the Mariners

ABS was deployed at 13 spring training parks this year and involved 19 home teams. These included the Mariners, and it turns out that Raleigh was particularly good at utilizing it to his advantage. At one point in Cactus League play he was 9-for-9 on challenges, and ultimately ended up going 10-for-11.

To provide some context to this success rate of 90.9 percent, consider some telling statistics courtesy of MLB.com's Theo DeRosa. Catchers had a 56 percent success rate on challenges, which was better than pitchers at 41 percent and hitters at 50.0 percent.

It would seem that others also believe the Mariners' clubhouse leader has a knack for using ABS productively. ESPN's Jesse Rogers surveyed 18 MLB executives and scouts about the 2025 campaign and, in response to a question about who would use the challenge system the most if it was instituted this regular season, one scout said: "Catchers have twice the chance to challenge, and it looks like Cal Raleigh is really good at it, so I'll go with him."

Cal Raleigh doesn't actually care for ABS

What's interesting is that Raleigh is not a fan of ABS or where it could potentially lead. During an appearance on the Marine Layer Podcast, he said: "I just don't think it's good for the game. I just don't think that robot umps should be calling the whole game. I think there's a good human element to it."

To help understand why the 28-year-old would have such an issue, consider what SoDo Mojo's site expert Zach Rymer wrote a few weeks back: "When he was catching in 2024, he got 430 strikes on pitches outside the zone and was hit with only 259 balls on pitches inside the zone. If every single one of those pitches had been challenged and overturned, he would have recorded 171 fewer strikes for his pitchers."

Ultimately, no matter how far it extends, this latest technology is here to stay in some form or other. And as much as Raleigh is weary of what ABS could lead towards, the Mariners and their fans can at least have confidence he seems to know how to use it positively.

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