Raleigh is on pace to join Johnny Bench in 1974 and Joe Torre in 1970 as the only players whose primary position was catcher in MLB history to reach 700 plate appearances in a season, becoming too essential on both sides of the ball for the Mariners to rest him. Not that he’d want to, anyway.

Is Cal Raleigh the 2025 MLB MVP? In this Big League Buzz clip, Sports Illustrated’s Ryan Phillips joins host Scott Gulbransen to break down why Seattle Mariners’ catcher Cal Raleigh is a serious MVP contender.

For every big swing and eye-popping home run, Cal Raleigh is building his case for something bigger. Chants of “M-V-P! M-V-P!” are growing louder in the Emerald City for Seattle’s 28-year-old catcher as opposing spectators look away, grit their teeth, and wait for Big Dumper to strike.