Remember that moment back in April? Cal Raleigh had just become the Mariners’ franchise home run leader among catchers. That six-year contract extension was definitely paying out for the team. Cal Raleigh has been quietly putting together a season that’s got baseball analysts reaching for the biggest names in the sport, so much so that someone just drew comparisons between his plate coverage and Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge. Well, you know you’re doing something extraordinary. And honestly, the comparisons aren’t as wild as they might initially sound.

The magic happened against Milwaukee, where Raleigh’s 39th home run of the season didn’t just clear the fence. It shattered an 11-game Brewers dramatic winning streak. This wasn’t just any swing either; it was a solo shot that provided the only run in a nail-biting 1-0 victory that had Logan Gilbert dealing for 6⅓ scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts.

The clutch factor here can’t be overstated – when your team needs one swing to break a fiery streak like Milwaukee’s, and you deliver it? That’s the kind of moment that separates talented players from franchise cornerstones.

Former MLB player Xavier Scruggs, now an analyst for ESPN and MLB Network who regularly appears on MLB Network Radio, didn’t mince words when breaking down what makes Raleigh special on air, and his analysis cuts right to the heart of why those Ohtani-Judge comparisons aren’t just hot air. “Look, there’s nobody in the game, maybe Aaron Judge and Ohtani that have the same plate coverage that Cal Raleigh has, a pitch up in a way. And he’s able to drive it that out to right,” Scruggs explained.

But it’s the clutch factor that really sets him apart – Scruggs emphasized that Raleigh’s 39 home runs aren’t just impressive for the number, but for when they’ve come. “He’s been so clutch with a lot of those home runs, and that’s why they’re in an opportunity for the wild card,” Scruggs noted.

Speaking of hot streaks, Mariners manager Dan Wilson has been watching this entire surge unfold with obvious admiration. When Raleigh was homering in four straight games earlier this season, Wilson observed, “He’s just in a really good spot. I think he feels comfortable, clear, and he’s getting good pitches. And when he gets them, he doesn’t miss them.” That’s the kind of confidence you want to see from your manager when discussing a player who’s become the offensive catalyst for your playoff hopes.

Cal Raleigh just did something even Aaron Judge would applaud

Leave it to Cal Raleigh to casually rewrite the record books on a Tuesday night. The Mariners’ superstar catcher didn’t just help Seattle beat Milwaukee 1-0—he pulled off something that’s never been done in baseball history.

Raleigh’s historic trifecta came courtesy of OptaStats, combining three feats no player had ever accomplished in the same game: homering in a 1-0 win, catching a 2-or-fewer-hit shutout, and catching a dozen or more strikeouts. His 39th blast of the season in the sixth inning provided the game’s only run, but the magic happened behind the plate too.

The All-Star backstop orchestrated a masterpiece, handling five different pitchers led by starter Logan Gilbert (6.1 IP, 2 H, 10 K) and closer Andres Munoz (1.0 IP, 2 BB, 2 K). It was textbook Raleigh—equal parts offensive thunder and defensive brilliance. The victory couldn’t have come at a better time either, snapping Milwaukee’s scorching 11-game win streak.

Of course, it was Raleigh who delivered the goods against Jacob Misiorowski and the red-hot Brewers. The man has turned unprecedented achievements into his calling card, and Tuesday was just another day at the office.