It feels like 2025 isn’t just the Mariners’ year of redemption, but also Cal Raleigh’s year of recognition. While Seattle has locked in a postseason berth for the first time since 2022, the spotlight is squarely on its catcher. Because Raleigh just joined the history books, becoming the first player to reach 60 home runs in a season since Aaron Judge smashed 62 back in 2022.

The timing seems to have aligned perfectly… The Mariners’ playoff-clinching moment came right as Raleigh crossed that milestone. So, riding that wave of energy, Raleigh grabbed the mic on Tuesday and delivered a speech that instantly became one for the ages. “Might as well go win the whole f—— thing,” Raleigh went r-rated in addressing the crowd.

While the crowd went berserk, hearing the f-bomb from their superstar slugger, Raleigh’s parents were also there in the stands. Their reaction?

“I was standing next to his mother and ‘did he just say that?’ And she’s like ‘yes.’ So, the old Major League Jake Taylor…you know… I guess, considering everything that has gone into it. So, I thought, ‘yeah, it’s ok.’ We will have to talk to him about cleaning that up a little bit. I thought for the moment and everything, it was pretty good actually,” Cal’s dad, Todd Raleigh, remarked.

Sure, the line Raleigh dropped wasn’t polished enough to land with every audience. But it perfectly captured what every Mariners fan was feeling in that moment.

And for Raleigh’s dad, it was especially meaningful as he’s seen firsthand the years of work it took for Cal to earn this kind of recognition and grow into the cornerstone Seattle is now leaning on heading into October. So, that kind of raw emotion was only natural. And the fans? They ate it up…

Reportedly, the speech became an instant hit, so much so that the team already has T-shirts with the quote flying off the shelves. The Mariners VP Jake Smidt even called it one of their best-sellers yet! And why not? Raleigh’s stats justify his popularity…

Cal Raleigh is a different beast this year

The last time someone from the Mariners won MVP was Ichiro Suzuki back in 2001. Since then, there’s nothing, but the wait might just end this year.

With 60 HRs till now, Cal Raleigh has officially joined one of baseball’s most exclusive clubs alongside Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Aaron Judge, Roger Maris, and Babe Ruth. And with his pace, he might as well break Aaron Judge’s AL record of 62 set back in 2022.

And when it comes to the AL MVP race, Raleigh’s case is strong…

Notably, Raleigh leads the AL in power numbers with 60 HRs and 125 RBIs. That too, while handling the most demanding job in the field. Wednesday marked his 155th game of the season, with 119 of those behind the plate. On the other hand, Judge has the edge in rate stats, leading the AL in batting average, OBP, slugging, and OPS at 1.136.

Hence, if MVP gets selected based on pure hitting stats, this might be the year Seattle finally ends its MVP drought. And what makes it even more notable is how Raleigh’s season started quietly. Through his first 13 games, Raleigh was hitting just .184 with 2 HRs and 3 RBIs. And look at him now!

The Big Dumper has taken an unreal acceleration post his initial start, and the Mariners would steer through the postseason riding on this steamroller.