Cal Raleigh Draws Great Praise From Teammates, Manager After Big Game

CHICAGO - Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh played a huge role in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. The backstop, who also won the Platinum Gold Glove last year, helped rookie Logan Evans navigate six innings on the mound, and he also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, a home run and two walks.

His home run tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning, and it was the 16th blast of his season. Raleigh, who signed a six-year contract before the season, appears to be playing his way into serious All-Star, if not MVP, conversation.

After the game, Evans addressed what he means to the roster:

Yeah, ​he's ​unbelievable. ​Obviously, ​there's ​no ​one ​like ​him. ​And ​he's ​a ​Platinum ​Glove ​winner. ​Can ​do ​it ​from ​both ​sides ​of ​the ​plate. ​I ​mean, ​he's ​so ​valuable, ​but ​not ​only ​on ​the ​field, ​but ​in ​the ​clubhouse ​as ​well. ​He's ​such ​a ​leader: ​vocal ​leader, ​and ​just ​also ​by ​his ​actions, ​he ​shows ​up ​every ​day ​and ​goes ​to ​work, ​and ​he's ​a ​great ​leader ​for ​our ​team.

Wilson, who is in the Mariners' Hall of Fame for his work as a catcher, also appreciated Raleigh's efforts:

He ​has ​really ​matured ​as ​a ​hitter. ​He's ​not ​only ​hitting ​the ​ball ​hard, ​but ​also ​looking ​for ​his ​pitch, ​taking ​pitches ​that ​are ​out ​of ​the ​strike ​zone, ​not ​trying ​to ​do ​too ​much. A ​double ​early ​in ​the ​ball ​game ​left-​handed, ​and ​then ​hit ​that ​line ​drive ​homer ​right- ​handed. ​He's ​locked ​in ​right ​now ​and ​when ​he's ​contributing ​offensively ​and ​then ​what ​he ​does ​for ​us ​behind ​the ​plate, ​that's ​a ​great ​effort ​from ​Cal ​again ​today ​after ​night ​game. ​A ​quick ​turnaround ​for ​him, ​but ​really ​nice ​job ​for ​Cal ​today.

Raleigh has a .954 OPS and 33 RBIs to go along with his 16 homers.

The Mariners will be back in action on Thursday night at 5:10 p.m. PT. They'll take on the Houston Astros at Daikin Park.