American · Sacramento, USA · Born 15 March 1997American baseball catcher who became the Seattle Mariners' primary backstop and helped end the franchise's 21-year playoff drought in 2022.
Born in Tampa, Florida on March 15, 1997, Calvin Anthony Raleigh grew up in a baseball family and developed his catching skills early. He attended Jesuit High School in Tampa, where he established himself as one of the state's top prospects behind the plate. The Seattle Mariners selected him in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft, recognizing his combination of defensive ability and raw power potential. Raleigh made his major league debut with Seattle in 2021 and quickly became the organization's primary catcher. His breakout season came in 2022, when he emerged as one of baseball's most promising young catchers while playing a crucial role in the Mariners' historic playoff push. The defining moment of his early career occurred on October 2, 2022, when his three-run walk-off home run against the Oakland Athletics clinched Seattle's first playoff berth since 2001, ending the longest postseason drought in major North American professional sports. The powerful left-handed hitter earned the nickname "Big Dumper" from teammates and fans for his ability to hit towering home runs from the catching position. His defensive development progressed steadily, with improvements in pitch framing and game management complementing his natural arm strength. Raleigh's durability behind the plate allowed him to handle significant workloads while maintaining his offensive production. Raleigh's impact extends beyond individual statistics to his role in the Mariners' organizational transformation. His clutch hitting and steady presence helped establish a new competitive culture in Seattle after two decades of frustration. As one of the American League's emerging catching talents, he represents the modern catcher archetype that combines offensive production with defensive reliability. His contribution to ending Seattle's playoff drought cemented his place in franchise history and positioned him as a cornerstone player for the organization's future success.
Switch-hitting catcher with power potential
How They Played
Switch-hitting catcher with defensive skills and power
Lasting Impact
Promising young catcher for Seattle Mariners
Career Honours
- AL Silver Slugger Award 2024 (Catcher)
- MLB All-Star 2023
- MLB All-Star 2024
- AL Home Run Leader 2024
- MLB record for most home runs in a single season by a catcher 2024
| Team | Period | Games | Jersey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Mariners | 2021–present | — | #29 |
American Athletes