Cal Raleigh didn’t just hit a home run; he sent a message. On Sunday night in Seattle, T-Mobile Park came alive with excitement, as the switch-hitting catcher launched his 54th homer of the season against the Los Angeles Angels, matching Mickey Mantle’s 1961 all-time single-season record for a switch-hitter. The Mariners, having won nine consecutive games at that point, had already claimed the lead in the AL West. But Raleigh’s milestone shot felt like the moment the Mariners’ postseason charge became impossible to ignore.

Two nights later, Raleigh homered twice more, breaking Mantle’s record and tying Ken Griffey Jr.’s franchise-best 56 homers, as Seattle pummeled Kansas City 12–5 for its tenth straight win. That night also featured Logan Gilbert going 5⅔ innings, two runs allowed, as Seattle continued to pile up runs during the streak. Raleigh now leads MLB in homers and has driven in 118 RBIs, carrying an OPS right around .951, which explains why opposing dugouts are suddenly nervous.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh skipper Derek Shelton went on MLB Network Radio and didn’t hold back about the danger Seattle poses if they reach the postseason. “I don’t want to play the Mariners in a short series, like, regardless,” Shelton admitted. “They have three starters at the top who can go head-to-head with anyone, and that’s the last thing you want to see when everything’s on the line.”

Seattle’s front office deserves some credit there.

At the trade deadline, the Mariners aggressively addressed their needs, landing Josh Naylor and reinforcing their bullpen. Naylor has slashed roughly .287/.331/.473/.805 since joining the club, giving Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez much-needed protection in the lineup. Those deadline moves, and a deeper bench/bullpen, have shifted Seattle from a one-dimensional long-ball club into a team that can manufacture runs and apply pressure throughout the order.

Defensively, Seattle has built a unit that backs up its power-packed offense.

Catcher Cal Raleigh continues to impress. He earned a Gold Glove last year, and his pitch framing has gained recognition throughout the league. Shortstop J.P. Crawford remains a dependable presence, constantly making plays that grab attention. Meanwhile, advanced metrics and player-tracking data indicate that Raleigh and Crawford even rank above-average in numerous fielding categories. This defensive prowess may not attract the same headlines as their home runs, but it serves a vital, understated role, one that assists them in maintaining leads when every out becomes significant.

Seattle isn’t asking for permission to join the conversation; they’re barging in. Their mix of power, pitching, and swagger has turned them from a fun story into a legitimate October nightmare. As Raleigh chases Griffey’s franchise record and the Mariners look to lock up a postseason berth, one thing is clear: No team wants to see this group across the diamond when the lights get brighter.

From scare to history: Cal Raleigh powers through a neck shot to lead Seattle

What looked like a scary moment quickly turned into the defining swing of the night.

After a foul ball ricocheted off the plate and smacked him in the neck, Cal Raleigh stayed in the game, dusted himself off, and crushed two homers in Seattle’s 12–5 rout of Kansas City. The second blast wasn’t just another run; it put Raleigh in the history books alongside Ken Griffey Jr., tying the Mariners’ single-season home run record at Kauffman Stadium.

After the game, Raleigh downplayed the scare but gave fans a glimpse into the catcher’s grind.

“I mean, it didn’t feel good,” Raleigh admitted via the Associated Press. “You know, kind of let my head up a little bit. Have to tuck it in a little better. It was all good. Just stung a bit. One of those things that happens to catchers every once in a while.” The pain clearly didn’t slow him down, and his surge is doing more than carrying Seattle’s offense; it’s crashing the AL MVP conversation. Every long ball from Raleigh chips away at Aaron Judge’s case, forcing voters to weigh a historic switch-hitting season against the Yankees’ superstar’s numbers.

Seattle’s 10-game winning streak has vaulted them a half-game ahead of Houston in the AL West, and Raleigh isn’t letting the moment get too big.

“It’s really cool. I’m humbled by it. A crazy kind of thing I never thought would happen,” he shared. “Just taking it day-by-day, pitch-by-pitch. Really enjoying every day with these guys and just trying to finish the season strong.” If this is the version of Raleigh the Mariners are taking into their upcoming showdown with the Astros, October baseball just got a lot scarier for the rest of the American League.