You know that feeling when your favorite player is having the kind of season that makes you question reality? That’s exactly what Cal Raleigh is doing to Mariners fans right now. The guy just tied Ken Griffey Jr.’s franchise record for home runs before the All-Star break, and honestly, it feels like we’re witnessing something truly special.
Friday night against the Pirates wasn’t just another game – it was a piece of baseball history in the making. Raleigh launched his 34th and 35th dingers of the season, officially matching Junior’s 1998 total and sending the baseball world into a collective “did that really just happen?” moment.
That first homer was an absolute moonshot
Let’s talk about that first-inning blast because, wow. Bailey Falter threw what probably looked like a perfectly good fastball, and Raleigh turned it into a physics lesson. The ball didn’t just leave the yard – it practically filed a change of address form.
The exit velocity clocked in at 115.2 mph, which is officially the hardest-hit ball of Raleigh’s career. For context, that’s faster than most cars drive on the highway. The two-run shot helped set the tone for what would become a 6-0 Mariners victory, proving that sometimes the best offense is just hitting the ball really, really hard.
Raleigh’s chase for Aaron Judge’s AL record is getting real
Here’s where things get absolutely wild – Raleigh is currently on pace to hit 65 home runs this season. That would shatter Aaron Judge’s American League record of 62, set just three years ago. We’re talking about potentially witnessing one of the most impressive individual seasons in recent baseball memory.
The consistency has been the most remarkable part. This isn’t some hot streak where he goes yard five times in a week and then disappears. Manager Dan Wilson perfectly captured it when he said it feels like Raleigh hits a home run every game. That’s the same feeling Wilson had as a teammate watching Griffey in 1998.
The switch-hitting advantage is paying off big time
What makes Raleigh’s season even more impressive is how he’s doing damage from both sides of the plate. He’s got 21 homers batting left-handed and 14 from the right side. That’s more power from each side than any other Mariners player has managed all season long.
Switch-hitting is supposed to be about versatility and contact, but Raleigh is using it like a cheat code for power. Pitchers can’t hide from him because he’s dangerous no matter which batter’s box he’s standing in. It’s like having two different power hitters rolled into one player.
The Griffey comparison hits different for Mariners fans
When you’re mentioned in the same breath as Ken Griffey Jr., you know you’re doing something right. Raleigh’s reaction to tying Junior’s record was pure class, calling Griffey iconic and a legend. That’s the kind of respect that shows this isn’t just about numbers – it’s about understanding the weight of Mariners history.
Griffey’s 1998 season was magical, and for Raleigh to match that pre-break total means he’s operating at a Hall of Fame level. The fact that he’s doing it as a catcher makes it even more impressive. These guys are basically playing two positions at once, and Raleigh is still finding time to rewrite the record books.
Eight more games to make even more history
The Mariners have eight games left before the All-Star break, which means Raleigh has eight more chances to completely blow past Griffey’s record. At his current pace, he could realistically add another three or four homers and set a new franchise standard.
What’s crazy is that this is just the first half of the season. Baseball fans are watching something that might end up being one of the greatest individual seasons in recent memory. Whether he breaks Judge’s AL record or not, Raleigh is already cementing himself as one of the most feared hitters in the game.
The Pirates learned that lesson the hard way on Friday night, and there’s probably a few more teams that are going to get the same education before this season is over.
