Raleigh\u2019s tried and true stroke worked out quite well for him during the 2025 season, one in which he finished runner-up for American League MVP honors and set the single-season record for home runs by a catcher with 60. The 29-year-old\u2019s magnificent season helped the Mariners come within one win of their first World Series berth, and set sky-high expectations heading into 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know the swing is good,\u201d Raleigh said. \u201cReally just trying to trust the approach, trust the plan, commit to it every single pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Like many of his Mariners teammates, though, Raleigh hasn\u2019t hit as well as he would like amid Seattle\u2019s 10-15 start, which includes Tuesday night\u2019s 5-2 loss to the Athletics. Even with a solo home run<\/a> and a single in the Mariners\u2019 latest defeat, Raleigh is hitting just .177 with a .538 OPS, his lowest since his rookie season.<\/p>\n Twenty-five games into the 2026 season, the Mariners find themselves in fourth place in the AL West, slotted ahead of only the bottom-feeding Houston Astros, who are tied for the most losses in major league baseball at 9-16.<\/p>\n First baseman Josh Naylor, who broke out of his slump last week with two home runs, still has a batting average below the Mendoza line. Julio Rodr\u00edguez has heated up considerably the last few weeks, but isn\u2019t hitting for power in a fashion that the Mariners have grown accustomed to.<\/p>\n Seattle entered Tuesday\u2019s game with 23 home runs as a team, good for 15th in the majors, yet only two teams have lower collective batting averages than their .218. The Mariners have taken their walks, but they aren\u2019t driving runners in with clutch hits or home runs.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019re getting guys on base at a good rate for the most part. I see that,\u201d Raleigh said. \u201cBut, I think I\u2019m guilty of this too \u2013 you get in those big spots and those big moments and each guy wants to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Seattle won\u2019t pull itself out of its season-opening quagmire with one win, or one series. It learned that after sweeping the Astros before dropping six of its next eight games.<\/p>\n Even so, Raleigh doesn\u2019t think he is putting too much pressure on himself after a banner year, nor is anybody else.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all know that we want to be doing better than we are,\u201d Raleigh said. \u201cBut at the same time, it\u2019s not going to help anybody in this room by trying to press and go out there and try to do more and try to be the guy. \u2026 I have faith in this group.\u201d<\/p>\n Seattle Mariners news and analysis<\/p>\n \u2022 Mariners call up rookie reliever, DFA Casey Legumina<\/a>
\u2022 Why Seattle Mariners didn\u2019t call up Colt Emerson with Donovan hurt<\/a>
\u2022 This feels like a better start for Mariners\u2019 Julio Rodr\u00edguez<\/a>
\u2022 Mariners\u2019 Bryce Miller brings the heat in first rehab outing<\/a>
\u2022 Seattle Mariners Injury Updates: Robles, Vargas and more<\/a><\/p>\n
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