Seattle Mariners star Cal Raleigh shocks fans with home run derby debut and surprising role for dad Todd Raleigh
Seattle Mariners star Cal Raleigh shocks fans with home run derby debut and surprising role for dad Todd Raleigh (Image via Getty)
Some exciting news just broke for Seattle Mariners fans and baseball lovers everywhere. Cal Raleigh, nicknamed 'The Big Dumper,' shared big news on social media: he will take part in his first-ever Home Run Derby.
With an MVP-level season already underway and his powerful swing making headlines, this announcement adds serious buzz leading into the 2025 All‑Star Weekend in Atlanta.
Cal Raleigh's Derby debut family ties and big momentum
Cal Raleigh, the 28-year-old catcher for the Seattle Mariners, confirmed on Friday that he will compete in the Home Run Derby on July 14, 2025, at Truist Park in Atlanta, home to the Atlanta Braves. This season he leads all of MLB with 32 home runs, making him the only player over 30 home runs before the break.
Notably, he's the first catcher and first switch-hitter to ever reach this mark.
— mlb (@mlb)
But what makes this even more personal is that Cal's father, Todd Raleigh, a former college coach, will pitch to him during the event. Cal also hopes his younger brother, Todd Jr., will be on the field to catch him. Cal said,
'It'll be extra special for my family… it'll be easy for them to get to'.
Todd Sr. added,
'As a dad, it doesn't get any better than that… it's kind of like one of those Hallmark moments'.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Top Doctor: If You Eat Eggs Every Day, This Is What Happens
WellnessGuide
Learn more
Undo
Cal Raleigh's career year and Derby odds
This season is already historic for Cal Raleigh. Through 79 games, he is slashing .275/.383/.659 with 69 RBIs, 58 runs, and an MLB-leading home run total. On June 20, he set a record by hitting two home runs in a single game against the Chicago Cubs, making him the catcher with the most homers before the All‑Star break in over 50 years.
DraftKings odds now show Raleigh as a top contender to win the Derby, just behind Aaron Judge.
He will go up against stars like Ronald Acuña Jr., who announced his own Derby entry this week.
Also Read:
Seattle Mariners Catcher Cal Raleigh Becomes Fastest To Match Ichiro's Home Run Total
Mariners fans remember legends like Ken Griffey Jr. winning the Derby three times. Cal now has the chance to be the first catcher and first switch-hitter to win it . With his family beside him and a historic season behind him, this could be a defining moment. The Home Run Derby is set for July 14, and all eyes will be on 'The Big Dumper.'
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Time to bring in Kuldeep Yadav': Ex-India cricketers drop big hint ahead of 2nd Test at Edgbaston
Kuldeep Yadav (BCCI Photo) NEW DELHI: Will Jasprit Bumrah feature in the second Test against England? What changes will India make after their defeat in the first Test? Will Kuldeep Yadav be brought into the mix? Who might be left out of the playing XI? These are some of the many questions being asked as India look to bounce back and level the series 1-1 when the second Test begins at Edgbaston in Birmingham on July 2. The Indian team management has already stated that Bumrah, due to workload management and his injury history, will only play three of the five Tests — although it's still unclear which matches those will be. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! In the first Test at Leeds, Bumrah took a five-wicket haul in the first innings but went wicketless in the second, bowling nearly 44 overs in total as England chased down 371. Kuldeep Yadav's exclusion from the first Test raised eyebrows, but after the loss, he is now being strongly considered for inclusion in the second Test, with the surface in Birmingham expected to assist spinners. 'Kis tarah se hum Kuldeep Yadav ko team la sakte hain ["How can we bring Kuldeep Yadav into the team?]. The team will have to give some thought to how we can bring Kuldeep Yadav into the XI, because judging by the approach we saw from the England batters in the first Test, Kuldeep — who bowls wrist spin — could be effective. Historically, England's batters haven't played wrist spin particularly well. So that is definitely something worth considering,' former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar said on Star Sports. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bring home all new SP125 & get an instant cashback up to ₹5000# Honda Learn More Undo Kuldeep Yadav spins it tight at Edgbaston Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath believes India should bring in both Kuldeep and pacer Arshdeep Singh for the Edgbaston Test. "I think one change could be replacing Shardul — I'd definitely look to include a bowler. And maybe instead of Prasidh Krishna, I'd look to add some variety. So probably, my changes would be Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav coming into the XI. But then again, the final XI will depend on the conditions," Badrinath said. India's five-match Test series against England began with the first game at Headingley, Leeds, from June 20 to 24, where England secured a five-wicket win. The second Test will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham, from July 2 to 6, followed by the third at Lord's, London, from July 10 to 14. The fourth Test is scheduled at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, from July 23 to 27, and the final Test will be held at the Kennington Oval, London, from July 31 to August 4. This marquee series is part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Surprise pick! Neeraj Chopra thinks this Indian cricketer could dominate javelin too- Watch
India's Neeraj Chopra (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary) Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra identified Indian cricket team 's fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah as having the potential to excel in javelin throw during a special segment on Star Sports hosted by Navjot Singh Sidhu. The two-time Olympic gold medalist made this assessment based on the physical attributes and techniques that fast bowlers possess. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Chopra specifically pointed to Bumrah 's fitness and strength as key factors that would make him suitable for javelin throw if he were not already established in cricket. "I think it would be a fast bowler for sure. So, I think a fully fit Jasprit Bumrah will be good at it," Chopra said on Star Sports. Bumrah's recent performance in cricket demonstrates his physical prowess. In the first Test match against England at Headingley, he secured his 14th five-wicket haul in the first innings, though he was unable to take wickets in the second innings. The match resulted in England's victory as they successfully chased down a target of 371 runs, with Ben Duckett scoring 149 runs. This win gave England a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series. Bumrah's statistics in 2024 showcase his exceptional capabilities. He has taken 78 wickets in just 15 Test matches, leading all fast bowlers globally during this period. Team India's Intense Nets at Edgbaston| Prep for 2nd Test vs England His workload has been significant, bowling 410.4 overs, which is the highest among all pace bowlers worldwide. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Everybody Is Switching To This Enterprise Accounting Software [Take a Look] Accounting ERP Click Here This surpasses Australia's Mitchell Starc, who has bowled 362.3 overs, and England's Gus Atkinson with 328 overs and 54 wickets. Among Indian bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja is the only other player to exceed 400 overs, bowling 400.1 overs. Mohammed Siraj, who has played the same number of matches as Bumrah, has bowled 355.3 overs. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? Due to workload management considerations, Bumrah is expected to be rested for the upcoming Test at Edgbaston. Siraj is anticipated to lead the pace attack, despite his underwhelming performance in the Headingley Test. The second Test of the series is scheduled to begin on July 2 in Birmingham, where India will attempt to level the series against England. This discussion about Bumrah's potential in javelin throw highlights the crossover of athletic abilities between cricket and track and field events, particularly the similarities in physical requirements between fast bowling and javelin throwing. The announcement was made as part of the promotion for the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic javelin throw event, scheduled for July 5, which will be broadcast on Star Sports. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
SL vs BAN 2nd Test: Prabath Jayasuriya spins Sri Lanka to innings win over Bangladesh in Colombo
Prabath Jayasuriya claimed his 12th five-wicket haul in Test cricket (AFP Photo) Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya claimed his 12th five-wicket haul in Test cricket to power Sri Lanka to a commanding innings-and-78-run victory over Bangladesh in the second Test, sealing the two-match series 1-0. Starting day four at a precarious 115 for six and still trailing by 97 runs, Bangladesh needed something extraordinary to survive — but Sri Lanka wasted no time in ending any hopes of resistance. Jayasuriya, who had gone wicketless in the first innings, struck with the fifth ball of the morning, removing Litton Das for 14 as he edged behind to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis. That dismissal of the last recognised batter sparked a rapid collapse, as the visitors folded quickly to hand Sri Lanka a dominant win before lunch. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The comprehensive result not only secured the series but also added crucial World Test Championship points to Sri Lanka's tally. Attention now shifts to the limited-overs leg of the tour, which includes three ODIs and three T20Is. The victory in Colombo marked a stark contrast to the drawn first Test in Galle on June 21, where Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto struck twin centuries. However, the visitors were unable to replicate that performance in the second match, with no batter managing a half-century in either innings. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo After winning the toss on a docile surface, Bangladesh squandered their early advantage, getting bowled out for 247 in their first innings. Sri Lanka responded with a commanding total of 458, establishing a hefty 211-run lead. Opener Pathum Nissanka anchored the innings with a fluent 158 — his second century of the series — while Dinesh Chandimal contributed a composed 93. Their 194-run stand for the second wicket laid the foundation for Sri Lanka's dominance. Gambhir & Agarkar Plot at the Birmingham Nets | Key Talks Ahead of 2nd Test vs England Although Bangladesh briefly clawed back with three quick wickets after taking the second new ball, Kusal Mendis steadied the innings with a counterattacking 84, ensuring the home side maintained full control. It was a thoroughly clinical display from Sri Lanka, who outclassed Bangladesh in every department to secure a resounding series win on home soil. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
