A historic first half of batting with elite performances, Cal Raleigh has now punched his ticket to the Home Run Derby with the hopes of becoming the first catcher to make a wild finish in the contest. The Seattle Mariners are seeing good strides thanks to him, and now he gets to prove his worth on the smashing game as well.

The Mariners backstop is hoping to shine on the All-Star festivities as he joins the power-hitting event, set this July 14th at the Truist Park in Atlanta. For Raleigh, this is a full-circle moment considering that he grew up 150 miles away in North Carolina and even regularly played in the area in his youth travel ball days.

Now it seems that he is going back for a familiar reason, just on a bigger stage this time. Earlier this month in an interview, Raleigh already hinted that he would love to do the Home Run Derby in a heartbeat. With Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña announcing that he will be joining the competition, Raleigh wasted no time in putting his name forward for the competition as well.

Joining the Hype

There were a lot of talks that Raleigh might pass up the opportunity considering that he is one of the players who are also slated to play in the All-Star Game and avoid too much fatigue to begin with. However, it seems that he is strongly considering to try it out and who knows, probably win it all as well.

“It's really cool,” Raleigh said. “Obviously, for all my family, it'll be easy for them to get to. And friends have already been texting me and asking if I would do it. So now hopefully I can put their mind at ease a little bit.”

The 2025 season has been a career-best campaign for Raleigh so far, with his offensive numbers putting him among the league leaders in home runs. His powerful swing from both sides of the plate has helped the Mariners stay competitive in the American League West.

At this point in the season, he’s already crushed over 30 homers and has become one of the most feared switch-hitters in the game. What makes this even more impressive is that he’s doing it while handling one of the best pitching staffs in baseball.

A Rewarding Season for Raleigh

His selection for the Derby isn’t just a reward for his strong season—it’s a chance to make a statement. Historically, catchers haven't had much success in the Derby, often overshadowed by bigger names from corner infield or outfield positions. Raleigh wants to change that. If he can make it deep into the competition or even win, it would be a milestone for catchers in MLB history.

And there's a special personal twist to the event, too. Raleigh’s father, Todd Raleigh, is expected to pitch to him during the Derby. Todd is a former college baseball coach, and the bond between father and son makes this moment even more significant. Cal also hinted at getting his younger brother involved in some way, possibly catching during the rounds. It adds a family dynamic to what’s already shaping up to be an emotional homecoming.

The crowd in Atlanta will likely have mixed loyalties with local star Ronald Acuña Jr. also participating, but Raleigh’s roots in the region could help him draw support. He played plenty of youth baseball in the Georgia and Carolinas scene, so don’t be surprised if some fans in Braves country are secretly pulling for him.