Seattle Mariners Boast Early AL MVP Candidate

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Joe Rutland | Last updated May 16, 2025 5:30 PM ET

The Seattle Mariners have been atop the American League West Division standings for much of this MLB season. One big reason has been the stellar play of the "Big Dumper" himself, Cal Raleigh.

Mariners fans know that Raleigh has been one of the most impressive hitters in his time with the team. Yet he's off to an awesome start through this season's early weeks.

Take a look at what the catcher has been doing at the plate. He already has 13 home runs and is slashing at a .924 OPS, MLB.com reported. For the homer total, that slots Raleigh in the range of a 50-homer season if he can keep it up. And his OPS? Goodness, that's up 176 points from last season alone.

With a career high walk rate and a career low strikeout rate, Cal Raleigh is putting together his best offensive season.#Mariners | @Mariners
https://t.co/fGPbvbj8w4 pic.twitter.com/1CAxAHNSbj
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) May 15, 2025

His play behind the plate has been worth noting, too. The Mariners' pitching staff has been going through tough times, yet Raleigh does a stellar job in calling a game. He makes sure that Seattle pitchers perform at their highest level. It's been a struggle for most of them.

Having a veteran voice and some level of patience is key for Seattle to maintain its AL West lead. The Mariners know that the Houston Astros are always lurking in the division. And, the same thing can be said for the Texas Rangers.

Raleigh, though, will keep on helping his pitchers. He's been awesome in the batter's box himself. Should he keep up this pace, then look for Raleigh to add AL MVP to his list of accomplishments.

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

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