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🎯 Landmark Night in Detroit
The Seattle Mariners cruised to a 12–3 victory over the Tigers, led by catcher Cal Raleigh, who launched his 37th and 38th home runs of the season. With his second blast—a grand slam—Raleigh shattered the AL record for most homers before the All-Star break, leaving him just one shy of Barry Bonds’ all-time mark of 39.
📊 Power Surge by the Numbers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Home Runs by Break | 38 — New AL Record |
| Previous AL Record | 37 (Reggie Jackson & Chris Davis) |
| Out of MLB Lead | Tied for most multi-homer games in season by switch-hitter (8) |
| Slash Line | .264/.377/.645 (OPS 1.022) |
| RBIs | 81 — League-leading tally |
He matched a season-high with his eighth multi-HR game and became the first catcher in MLB history to top 38 homers before the break.
🦸♂️ Milestone Moments
Inning 8: Solo shot off former teammate Tyler Holton to tie the prior AL record (37)
Inning 9: Grand slam off Brant Hurter sealed the new record (38)
This performance ties Mariners legend Ken Griffey Jr. for most multi-HR games in a season—this time at switch-hitter elite level.
🌠 Why It Matters
Redefining catcher potential: Raleigh broke a 55-year record previously held by Johnny Bench—now holding the title for most early-season homers by a primary catcher.
Chasing history: With two games left before the break, he has a real chance to match or surpass Bonds’ 2001 milestone of 39 first-half homers.
MVP conversation starter: Alongside Aaron Judge, Raleigh is one of only two players in MLB with an OPS over 1.000 this season.
Team Keystone: His power surge helps drive Seattle’s position in the AL West playoff push.
🔮 Editor’s Take
Cal Raleigh isn’t just slumping back the home run parade—he’s leading it. From catcher duties behind the plate to anchoring Seattle’s offense, Raleigh’s consistency shows what elite power can look like at any position. With just one more long ball before the break, he could erase an iconic record—and maybe punch his ticket for even bigger milestones ahead.
He’s rewriting catcher history, one swing at a time.
