Cal Raleigh belts 50th homer, makes switch-hitting history in MLB

Seattle Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh added another milestone to his breakout season on Monday night, belting his 50th home run in the first inning against the San Diego Padres. With one out and the bases empty, Raleigh connected on a solo shot off starter JP Sears, cementing his place in baseball history.

The 28-year-old became just the second switch hitter in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to reach the 50-homer mark in a season, joining Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle.


The blast came a day after Raleigh set the single-season record for most home runs by a primary catcher, surpassing Salvador Perez’s 48 for Kansas City in 2021. Raleigh had already extended that total, and now has sole possession of another historic achievement.

Though serving as the Mariners’ designated hitter on Monday, Raleigh’s production has primarily come as a catcher. According to ESPN, he is also the first player ever to hit at least 20 home runs from both sides of the plate in a single season, underscoring his unique power profile.

Raleigh entered the night with a four-homer lead in the race for MLB’s home run crown over Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber and Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, both of whom were held without a homer Monday.

With each swing, Raleigh is adding to his growing reputation - and rewriting the record books.