Mariners’ Cal Raleigh turns into first MLB participant with 60-homer season since Yankees’ Aaron Decide

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh homered for the 59th and sixtieth instances on Wednesday in opposition to the Colorado, crossing a brand new threshold as he places the ending touches on his historic season. Raleigh is simply the fourth participant in American League historical past to clear 60 residence runs, and the primary who wasn’t a member of the New York Yankees on the time.

Certainly, Raleigh is the primary participant to homer 60 or extra instances since Yankees slugger Aaron Decide broke the American League and franchise single-season report with 62 residence runs in 2022. Previous to Decide, no participant had cleared 60 residence runs since 2001.

AL gamers with 60-homer seasons

Moreover, Raleigh set the single-season report for many residence runs by a major catcher (beforehand 48) again in late August, and he is since toppled the single-season report for most residence runs by a change hitter (55) and Mariners participant (56) in September. It has been that form of magical, historic season.

His 59th residence run earlier within the evening was an imposing shot into the higher proper discipline deck of T-Cell Park.

Raleigh, 28, entered Wednesday hitting .245/.359/.586 (168 OPS+) with 58 residence runs, 121 runs batted in, and 14 stolen bases. His contributions had been value an estimated 6.9 Wins Above Alternative, in keeping with Baseball Reference’s calculations. But Raleigh can also be an above-average framer behind the plate, one thing not included in Baseball Reference’s WAR mannequin. As such, it is truthful to counsel Raleigh has been value much more to the Mariners all year long.

No surprise Raleigh is taken into account to be one of many favorites to win the AL Most Helpful Participant Award, with the aforementioned Decide serving as his stiffest competitors.

The Mariners clinched the American League West with their win on Wednesday, securing their first division title since 2001. Beforehand, the Mariners had ensured they might make it to the playoffs for simply the second time within the final 24 years. Seattle snapped a 21-year drought in 2022, advancing to the Division Collection earlier than being swept in three video games by the Houston Astros.

The Mariners will full their sequence with the Rockies on Thursday earlier than rounding out their yr with three video games in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend. In principle, that would function a preview of the upcoming World Collection.