Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh on home run derby win, meeting expectations amid standout season

The Seattle Mariners star leads the MLB in homers and is the first switch-hitter to win the home run derby.

ATLANTA – No MLB player has hit more home runs leading into the All-Star break than Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. The catcher's league-leading 38 homers through 94 games puts him on pace to surpass Aaron Judge's historic 62 home run season. 

Raleigh's breakout 2025 season earned him a first-career All-Star selection. On Monday, Raleigh became the first catcher in history to win the home run derby trophy. He's also the first switch-hitter to claim the derby crown.

Raleigh's 18 long balls in the final round surpassed Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero's 15 homers.

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Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) during the 2025 Home Run Derby at Truist Park. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)

Raleigh's historic derby moment was a family-filled event. His younger brother Todd Raleigh Jr. was the catcher, while Todd Raleigh threw pitches to the Mariners slugger.

"It goes all the way back to him coming home and me forcing him to throw me a ball and hit it in the backyard or in the house or something (he) probably shouldn’t be doing," the first-time All-Star said as he recalled moments from his childhood.

2025 MLB ALL-STAR GAME: MOST MEMORABLE ALL-STAR MOMENTS THROUGHOUT HISTORY

Raleigh later told "The Pat McAfee Show" that his brother had "lived his best life."

"He's kind of an awkward teenager… obviously like anybody," Raleigh said of his 15-year-old brother. "I had no expectations of him speaking up, but he was pumping me up the whole time. I was kind of surprised."

Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners interacts with fans during the 2025 All-Star Red Carpet Show