Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is one home run away from matching an extraordinary record set by Barry Bonds. As of July 11, 2025, Raleigh has hit 38 home runs before the All-Star break, placing him just one shy of Bonds’ 2001 record of 39 homers in the first half of the season. This remarkable achievement has captivated baseball fans and analysts alike, with Raleigh etching his name alongside legends in a historic 2025 campaign.
Raleigh’s pursuit of the record reached a fever pitch during a 12-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night, where he blasted two home runs—a solo shot in the eighth inning and a grand slam in the ninth. These long balls not only set a new American League record for most home runs before the All-Star break, surpassing Chris Davis’ 37 in 2013, but also brought Raleigh within striking distance of Bonds’ MLB mark. With two games remaining before the All-Star break, the 28-year-old switch-hitter has a golden opportunity to tie or even surpass Bonds’ record at Detroit’s Comerica Park.
The Mariners’ star has been a force all season, leading MLB with his 38 homers and rewriting the record books for catchers. Raleigh’s power surge includes surpassing Johnny Bench’s mark for most home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break and becoming the first switch-hitter to reach 30 homers in the first half. His .278 batting average, 1.048 OPS, and 80 RBIs underscore a breakout year that has him in the AL MVP conversation alongside Aaron Judge.
Despite the physical demands of catching, Raleigh’s consistency and power from both sides of the plate have defied expectations. His 38 homers in 94 games put him on pace for 67 over a full season, a figure that could challenge Aaron Judge’s AL single-season record of 62. As Raleigh prepares for the Home Run Derby and his first All-Star Game start, all eyes are on him to see if he can match Bonds’ iconic mark. The baseball world awaits the next swing of his bat, which could cement his place in history.
