Sports Illustrated has awarded Cal Raleigh the well-deserved accolade following his tremendous 2025 season with the Seattle Mariners.
Cal Raleigh just keeps racking up the awards following his truly special 2025 season with the Mariners. On Thursday, Sports Illustrated named him the 2025 “Breakout Star of the Year”.
It might seem strange to characterize Raleigh as a breakout star giving his success in previous seasons, but he really did take his game to another level in 2025 as he became a household name around baseball. The award encompasses athletes of all sports and recognizes one who unexpectedly dominated the sports conversation.
In this respect, no one could have anticipated what Raleigh would achieve in 2025, as he went on to become just the seventh player in Major League history to hit 60 home runs in a season. Along the way he surpassed previous single season home run records held by Salvador Perez (48 as a catcher), Mickey Mantle (54 as a switch-hitter) and Ken Griffey Jr. (56 with the Mariners).
A season for the ages by Cal Raleigh
Raleigh arguably should have been named AL MVP, but he just missed out as the award instead went to Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees. However, he still did well for himself, including becoming the first catcher in Mariners history to win a Silver Slugger Award.
Other accolades included being named MLBPA Players Choice Awards’ Player of the Year and AL Outstanding Player, and Sporting News’ MLB Player of the Year. He was also selected to the All-MLB First Team for the first time in his five years of Major League action.
It will be understandably tough for the 2024 Gold and Platinum Glove Award winner to replicate his 60 home runs, 125 RBI and 9.1 fWAR next season. However, he’s still expected to have an excellent year, with FanGraphs projecting him to produce 39 home runs, 94 RBI and a 6.1 fWAR.
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Photos courtesy of Tim Rogers Photography
It’s generally accepted Raleigh will not be able to match his 2025 productivity next season. However, what kind of year do you predict for him in 2026 with the Mariners? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
