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Cal Raleigh 2026 Outlook: Consensus Top Catcher with Immense Power Upside
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh enjoyed a historic 2025 campaign. The switch-hitting backstop launched 60 home runs, the most ever by a catcher in a single season, and finished second in AL MVP voting, behind Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. Raleigh posted a .247/.359/.589 line with 125 RBI (most in the AL), 120 runs (second-most in the AL), and swiped 14 bags. Additionally, his .247 batting average and stolen base total marked a career-high for the catcher. A look under the hood further shows the progress the Florida State product has made at the plate. Raleigh generated a .370 xwOBA (92nd percentile), .535 xSLG (96th percentile), and a 19.5% barrel rate (99th percentile), which all marked career-highs as well. While he remains a top asset for power production, his value at the catcher position comes from his playing time. In 2025, Raleigh appeared in 159 games, seeing 121 games behind the dish and another 38 as the DH. Given that he is a near lock to play almost every day, Raleigh can continue to accumulate counting stats while contending for the HR title. While his 17.95 ADP on NFBC may feel a bit high for a backstop, Raleigh stands alone at this position, as he provides elite power, high-end counting stats, and improving batting average and speed.
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