Cal Raleigh's 2026 Collapse: A Mystery Unfolds

Cal Raleigh's 2026 season has been a dramatic fall from grace after his record-shattering 2025 campaign. In 2025, he hit 60 home runs, a new catcher and Mariner record, with 125 RBIs and a .948 OPS. Expectations were high, but through August 20, Raleigh was slashing just .156/.271/.296 with 13 home runs, a significant decline in production.

On May 1, Raleigh suffered an oblique injury against the Royals, which sidelined him for three games and led to him playing through discomfort. This period included an 0-for-38 stretch, and he was eventually placed on the injured list on May 14. Although he returned on June 16 after a rehabilitation assignment, his major league performance has yet to rebound.

Analysis of his underlying numbers indicates that Raleigh has not lost his physical ability to hit. His bat speed and swing path remain consistent. However, his hard-hit rate and barrel rate have decreased significantly, leading to more pop-ups and fewer impactful hits. His performance against four-seam fastballs, a pitch he dominated in 2025, has fallen sharply in 2026.

The Mariners' offensive strategy appears to have been overly reliant on Raleigh's 2025 heroics, with insufficient depth to compensate for his 2026 struggles. His slump has exposed underlying weaknesses in the team's lineup construction, highlighting a need for greater offensive support around their franchise catcher.