Cal Raleigh's Historic MVP Season Shines Despite Aaron Judge's Dominance

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is making serious waves this 2025 MLB season. He’s suddenly in the thick of the American League MVP conversation, and that’s not something you see every year for a catcher.

Raleigh’s stats are wild, and he’s been steady all season. Even though Aaron Judge of the Yankees is still the big favorite, Raleigh’s mix of power at the plate and sharp defense is putting him on a pace we just don’t see from catchers very often.

Could this be one of the best seasons ever by a catcher? Maybe. Let’s take a closer look at what’s driving Raleigh’s breakout and how he’s stacking up against the league’s best.

Table of Contents

Cal Raleigh’s Stellar 2025 Campaign

Now that we’re into June, the season’s storylines are starting to solidify. Cal Raleigh, the Mariners’ 28-year-old backstop, is having the kind of season that grabs your attention.

He’s always had pop—averaging 30 homers a year from 2022 through 2024—but this year, he’s taken it up a notch. Suddenly, Raleigh is a legitimate MVP candidate, not just a solid contributor.

Offensive Excellence

Raleigh’s numbers jump off the page. He’s slashing .258/.372/.603, with 19 home runs and 34 unintentional walks.

Those 19 homers lead the American League and only trail Shohei Ohtani across all of MLB. His OPS+ sits at 176, which means he’s producing 76 percent better than the league average—third-best in the AL. You’d expect this from a slugging first baseman, not a catcher.

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Balanced Performance

Raleigh’s switch-hitting gives him a real edge. He’s kept his splits pretty even, both this year and over his career.

Pitchers can’t really find a soft spot in his game, which just adds to his value at the plate.

Defensive Contributions

Raleigh brings a lot more than just his bat. Catcher is the toughest defensive spot in baseball, no question.

This year, the average catcher is hitting .245/.317/.397, so Raleigh’s offense stands out even more. Statcast puts him seventh among 35 qualifying catchers in Fielding Run Value. Even if his Defensive Runs Saved isn’t eye-popping right now, he’s clearly a plus defender.

Durability and Clutch Performance

He’s been an iron man, catching every Mariners game so far and logging 369 2/3 innings behind the plate—fifth-most in the majors. That’s no small feat.

He’s also come up big in the clutch. His overall OPS is .975, but it jumps to 1.204 in “late and close” situations, 1.023 when the score is tied, and 1.072 in one-run games. In high-leverage moments, his OPS skyrockets to 1.289. That’s the kind of thing that makes you take notice.

Historical Context

Raleigh’s current WAR sits at 2.6, tied for fourth among AL position players. If he keeps this up, he’ll finish with a WAR of 8.1—that’s MVP territory, plain and simple.

Only three catchers since 1900 have put up an 8-WAR season: Mike Piazza in 1997 (8.7), Johnny Bench in 1972 (8.6) and 1974 (7.9), and Gary Carter in 1982 (8.6). That’s some serious company.

Comparing to MVP Contenders

Aaron Judge is still the runaway favorite for MVP, with a WAR of 4.3. The odds say it’s his award to lose—he’s at -8000, while Raleigh is third at +7500.

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If Judge slows down or misses time, Raleigh could make a real run at it. The Mariners haven’t had an MVP since Ichiro in 2001, and no catcher has won it since Buster Posey in 2012. Could Raleigh be the one to break that streak? Stranger things have happened in baseball.

Conclusion

Cal Raleigh’s 2025 season? It’s shaping up to be something special. He’s got this rare mix of offensive power and defensive reliability that you just don’t see every day.

Clutch moments? Raleigh keeps delivering. Sure, Aaron Judge still leads the MVP race, but you can’t ignore Raleigh’s steady excellence.

Honestly, if he keeps this up, the conversation might shift. Are we just talking MVP, or are we looking at one of the greatest catcher seasons ever?

Want more analysis and updates on Raleigh’s season? Check out the original article.

Joe Hughes is the founder of CollegeNetWorth.com, a comprehensive resource on college athletes' earnings potential in the NIL era. Combining his passion for sports with expertise in collegiate athletics, Joe provides valuable insights for athletes, fans, and institutions navigating this new landscape.

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