Mariners star Cal Raleigh's magical year leads to big opportunity in 2026

Seattle Mariners slugger and AL MVP hopeful Cal Raleigh surprised the baseball community ahead of his Home Run Derby appearance.

Raleigh will join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic in 2026. And the timing couldn't be better, as the season reaches its halfway point.

The 28-year-old Mariners catcher made his first All-Star appearance in 2025, leading Major League Baseball in home runs (38) and RBIs (82), with a 1.010 OPS.

He's currently chasing Salvador Perez's single-season HR record for a catcher (48) — and potentially Aaron Judge's AL record of 62. Raleigh is on pace for 64 homers, which would put the final touches on an unbelievable campaign in his fifth year.

Raleigh is gearing up for the Home Run Derby on Monday and is set to start for the AL behind the plate in Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game.

As for Team USA, already loading up with stacked talent like Judge, Bobby Witt Jr. and Paul Skenes — they are looking to be a dangerous contender heading into 2026.

It has been a storybook season for Raleigh, and he's still going. The decision to represent Team USA is what baseball fans wanted to hear, and Mariners fans can get excited for their club's second-half push.

The Big Dumper is going global. From T-Mobile Park to competing against the rest of the world, Raleigh is ready for the challenge. And Team USA couldn't ask for a better bat to carry the Stars and Stripes in pursuit of a gold medal.