In less than six weeks, eight of MLB’s biggest sluggers will square off in the Home Run Derby at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Could the annual blockbuster event include Seattle Mariners star catcher Cal Raleigh?
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At this point, Raleigh seems sure to get an invite. The switch-hitting catcher regained the MLB home run lead on Thursday afternoon, moving back in front of Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani with his 24th long ball of the season.
If Raleigh were to continue at his torrid pace, he would be on track for nearly 64 home runs. New York Yankees star Aaron Judge holds the American League record with 62 homers in 2022, while Kansas City Royals slugger Salvador Perez holds the MLB record for a catcher with 48 in 2021.
So the question, rather, is whether Raleigh would accept a derby invite. Some players decline, usually due to the fear of developing bad habits that could negatively impact their swings when games resume after the All-Star break.
But for Raleigh, it doesn’t sound like there would be any hesitation.
“If I ever got invited to (the derby), I would 100 percent do that,” Raleigh said when asked by ESPN host Mina Kimes during a segment on the Mina Kimes Show that was posted on Thursday.
If Raleigh does participate in the July 14 derby, it’d be a homecoming of sorts. Raleigh grew up in Cullowhee, N.C., which is some 150 miles northeast of the Atlanta Braves’ ballpark.
Raleigh also would have a chance to become just the second derby contestant to hit from both sides of the plate at the event. Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman became the first to do so during the 2023 derby in Seattle. Raleigh has 16 homers from the left side this season and eight from the right side.
Since the Home Run Derby began in 1985, the Mariners have had seven different players compete in the event for a combined 16 appearances. Ken Griffey Jr. competed eight times (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000), while Julio Rodríguez (2022, 2023) and Bret Boone (2001, 2003) did so twice. Jay Buhner (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Edgar Martinez (2000) and Robinson Cano (2016) were each one-time contestants.
Griffey is the lone Mariners slugger to win the derby. He did so three times – in 1994, 1998 and 1999.
What about the WBC?
Kimes also asked Raleigh whether he’d like to play for Team USA in next spring’s World Baseball Classic.
Once again, Raleigh sounded all-in.
“Yeah, in a heartbeat,” Raleigh said. “I feel like that’s like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And you saw what it was like the last time (in the 2023 WBC) with the whole Mike Trout-Ohtani (matchup) and how many people were tuning in and how good it was for baseball. I’d love to do that.”
The 2026 WBC is scheduled for March 5-17, which is during the middle of spring training. It will take place across four cities: Houston, Miami, Tokyo and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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