Raleigh hits 57th homer to break Mariners single-season record

HOUSTON — Seattle's Cal Raleigh hit his 57th home run of the season in the Mariners' 6-4 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night, breaking the Mariners' single-season franchise record. The blast came in the third inning, when Raleigh lined a 95.5 mph sinker from left-hander Framber Valdez into the right-center-field bullpen to push Seattle's lead to 3-0. Raleigh lifted his right arm in celebration as he rounded second base and raised the team's trident after J.P. Crawford handed it to him before he entered the dugout.

Raleigh's 57th homer leads the majors this season and surpasses the Mariners' previous single-season mark set by Ken Griffey Jr. in 1997 and 1998. The milestone also puts Raleigh in the record books in other categories; he surpassed Mickey Mantle's MLB record for home runs by a switch-hitter of 54, a figure set in 1961, and he set the MLB record for homers by a catcher this season, eclipsing Salvador Perez's 48 in 2021.

Seattle extended its impact with a 6-4 finish, and Raleigh's power was a central storyline as the Mariners continued to push for a strong finish to the season while contending in the race for the postseason. The team leaned on its slugger in a year marked by record-breaking output, with Raleigh's name becoming a frequent feature in national highlights and box scores.

As the season progresses, Raleigh's record-breaking pace has shifted conversations around the power potential for catchers and switch-hitters in modern baseball, underscoring the Mariners' continued offensive upside.