Mariners Star Cal Raleigh Breaks Junior's Home Run Record Before All-Star Break

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Joe Rutland | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 12:09 PM ET

As the Seattle Mariners try to get back into the American League West conversation, Cal Raleigh just keeps on hitting home runs. On Tuesday night, Raleigh broke a record held by Mariners legend Ken Griffey Jr.

Raleigh, the Mariners' catcher-designated hitter, hit his 36th homer before the All-Star break, snapping Griffey Jr.'s 35 that was set in 1998. Despite Raleigh's heroics, Seattle lost 10-3 to the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

“Obviously, not the result we wanted to get tonight,” Raleigh told MLB.com after the game. “It’s frustrating, but [the record] is a cool thing to accomplish. [Griffey] is a great player and I tried to do my part.”

Cal Raleigh is ahead of Yankees' Aaron Judge for MLB homer race

Raleigh hit his homer in the top of the eighth, sending it into the second deck in right field. The "Big Dumper" leads MLB in homers, two ahead of Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.

36 home runs for Cal Raleigh!

He passes Ken Griffey Jr. for most home runs by a @Mariners player before the All-Star break pic.twitter.com/Dz6urLTdK7
— MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2025

Judge hit his 34th homer this season in the home half of the seventh inning off of Seattle reliever Casey Legumina.

When Raleigh connected, the Yankees were up 10-1, so it didn't play a role in keeping the game close. Still, it was a sweet moment for Raleigh and his Seattle teammates.

Mariners manager Dan Wilson was around when Griffey Jr. set the original mark, playing beside him for six seasons. He remembers seeing Junior in his prime.

“You don’t think about that [because of] the way [Griffey] could hit homers,” Wilson said.

For his part, Raleigh works on being better all the time. The work that he has put in had paid dividends this season for the Mariners, who are 6.5 games behind the AL West front-running Houston Astros.

“I’m trying to get better, trying to improve myself,” Raleigh said. “You try to learn who you are as a hitter. It’s something I made a point to do from both sides of the plate. I try to be a better overall hitter. I try to take my hits when I get them. I’m not just trying to be a power guy.”

If Raleigh can keep on hitting dingers, then Seattle just might make a postseason push for an AL Wild Card spot.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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