The Best Catcher In Major League Baseball

Seattle’s Backstop is Building One of the Greatest Catching Seasons Ever

Catcher is the most physically and mentally demanding position in Major League Baseball. Yet, Cal Raleigh is putting together an offensive season we rarely—if ever—see from someone wearing the gear. A leader for the Mariners and a force at the plate, Raleigh is making a case for not only the best catcher in baseball but also one of the most valuable players in the entire league.

Season Overview: A Career Year

Raleigh’s 2025 campaign is turning heads, as he ranks near the top of the leaderboard in nearly every major offensive category while catching nearly every day.

He currently boasts a .264 batting average, a .379 OBP, and a massive .637 slugging percentage. With 23 home runs and 45 RBI already under his belt, Raleigh also carries a .427 wOBA and a 188 wRC+, both among the elite marks in MLB. His 3.8 fWAR ranks second in baseball, only behind Aaron Judge, who is chasing another historic campaign. Raleigh’s ability to produce this much at the plate while managing the rigors of catching makes his season all the more special.

Best Player in Baseball Over the Last Month

Raleigh hasn’t just been great—he’s been the best player in baseball over the last 30 days, tying Judge in WAR and leading the league in multiple offensive metrics.

Over the past month, he’s taken his game to another level:

• 27 hits

• 11 home runs

• 22 RBI

• .293/.416/.696 slash line

• .402 ISO

• .463 wOBA

• 213 wRC+

This stretch of dominance has earned him 2.0 fWAR, tied for the most in MLB during that time. No catcher has had a month like this in recent memory. He’s producing like a superstar corner outfielder while also leading a pitching staff from behind the plate. He just won AL Player of the Week with Tampa Bay Rays’ young star, Junior Caminero.

Advanced Metrics: Elite Power, Elite Profile

The underlying data isn’t just good—it confirms Raleigh’s season is legitimate. His advanced profile shows he's among the very best hitters in baseball.

Cal ranks in the 95th percentile or better in several elite categories:

• xwOBA: .408 (95th percentile)

• xSLG: .602 (98th percentile)

• Barrel Rate: 24.3% (100th percentile)

• Avg Exit Velocity: 92.6 mph (90th percentile)

• Hard-Hit%: 50.0% (84th percentile)

• LA Sweet Spot%: 83rd percentile

• Bat Speed: 74.6 mph (87th percentile)

• BB%: 14.6% (career high)

This isn’t just a hot streak. Raleigh is making harder, more precise, and more consistent contact than ever before.

Refined Plate Discipline & Swing Decisions

Raleigh is walking more, chasing less, and making better swing decisions than at any point in his career—and it’s all showing up in the results.

He’s seen growth in several key plate discipline areas:

• Zone Contact Rate: Up from 76.8% to 78.0%

• Chase Rate: Down from 32.7% to 27.1%

• Swing Rate: Down 2.7% overall

• First Pitch Swing Rate: Down 5.0%

Despite swinging less, Raleigh has lowered his strikeout rate by 0.7% from last season. He’s being selective—waiting for his pitch—and when he gets it, he’s punishing the baseball.

Elevated Contact Profile: Built for Power

The way Raleigh hits the ball has changed drastically. He’s getting more lift, pulling the ball more, and driving it in the air with consistency.

Here are some of his most notable batted ball improvements:

• Groundball Rate: Down from 31.1% to 25.0%

• Flyball Rate: Up from 36.7% to 38.9%

• Line Drive Rate: Up from 21.3% to 22.9%

• Pull%: Up from 45.5% to 55.6%

• Pull Air%: Career-high 40.3% (+10.8% from 2024)

Raleigh is hitting fewer ground balls and more damage-inducing fly balls and line drives. He’s become one of the most dangerous pull hitters in the league, with his pull-air rate leading the way. These are adjustments hitters make when chasing historic power seasons, and he’s succeeding. Not to mention, he does this from both sides of the plate!

Defensive Value Behind the Plate

Even with all the offensive fireworks, Raleigh remains an asset behind the plate—something that makes his overall value even more unique.

• 3 Blocks Above Average (Top 25% of MLB catchers)

• 3 Framing Value Runs (Top 13% in MLB)

He’s trusted with managing one of the youngest, most talented rotations in baseball. He’s not just a slugger—he’s a full-service catcher who excels in pitch presentation, blocking, and handling a pitching staff. Raleigh’s value goes beyond the stat sheet. He’s a cornerstone leader and a key part of Seattle’s identity, especially in how he works with their arms. It’s easy to overlook what Raleigh means to the Mariners’ clubhouse and pitching staff. Developing relationships with young arms, contributing to the game plan, adapting quickly, and maintaining durability in a demanding role, all while generating MVP-level offense, is an unprecedented feat. Raleigh is a unique talent who fulfills every expectation.

A Season for the Record Books?

If Cal Raleigh continues at this pace, we could be witnessing the greatest offensive season ever by a catcher. Between the power, the patience, the pitch-framing, and the leadership, he’s more than just a story—he’s a bona fide superstar.

And it’s time the baseball world started talking about him that way.

Thank you for reading! Considering subscribing and following me on X @OPS_BASEBALL