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Last season, Seattle Mariners star catcher Cal Raleigh had a season that people dream of. No one dreams of having a season in Raleigh this year.
The 29-year-old’s nightmare campaign in 2026 continued Thursday when the Mariners placed Raleigh on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique sprain. Raleigh left the Mariners’ 4-3 loss to the Houston Astros on Thursday after appearing to aggravate a right side injury.
Raleigh ended the major leagues’ longest hitless streak in the team’s 10-2 win over the Astors on Tuesday, breaking out of an 0-38 slump with a pair of singles.
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Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners returns to the dugout after knocking out the New York Yankees in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Seattle on April 1, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)
This is the first stint on the IL in Raleigh’s six-year career. Raleigh missed three games from May 2-4 due to right side soreness.
Last season, Raleigh hit .247 with 60 homers and 125 RBIs in 159 games. He broke Kansas City Royals star catcher Salvador Perez’s record of 48 for most home runs by a catcher in a single season.
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Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners hits in the second inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas on May 11, 2026. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Raleigh broke New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle’s record of 55 for most home runs in a season by a switch hitter. He also set the Mariners’ franchise record for most home runs in a season, surpassing Ken Griffey Jr.’s previous record of 56.
This season has been a much different story.
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Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh runs to first base on a single during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas on May 12, 2026. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
In 41 games this season, Raleigh is hitting .161 with seven home runs, 18 RBIs, four doubles, 18 walks and 16 runs. His .161 batting average is the second lowest in the major leagues among hitters with enough at-bats to qualify. Only Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins (.150) has a lower average.
To fill Raleigh’s spot on the active roster, the Mariners recalled catcher Jhonny Pereda from Triple-A Tacoma.
