Raleigh homers AGAIN at Triple-A while nearing return to MLB
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Cal Raleigh is looking awfully good as he works his way back from a right oblique strain, the 29-year-old’s first career stint on the injured list. And opposing Triple-A pitchers are probably hoping the Big Dumper is back in the big leagues sooner than later.
Raleigh on Thursday hit his third home run in two games with Tacoma, a three-run shot that gave the Rainiers an 8-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Tacoma eventually walked away with a W, 9-5, over Albuquerque at Cheney Stadium.
The long ball -- hit at 105 mph and traveling 377 feet to right field -- was Raleigh’s lone hit of the day, though he also tagged a flyout at 97.4 mph in the fifth inning. He also struck out once and flew out one other time.
Raleigh’s game on Tuesday was also quite the power surge, with a first-inning homer traveling 104 mph and a fifth-inning grand slam leaving at 95.1 mph. Including one game with High-A Everett, Raleigh is now 4-for-10 with the trio of homers in three games in the Minor Leagues -- good for a 1.714 slugging percentage.
Perhaps most importantly? The 2024 Platinum Glove recipient was back to catching for five innings Wednesday and eight on Thursday.
Raleigh may be with Triple-A through the weekend. According to MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer, the Mariners are tentatively targeting next week’s homestand, beginning Tuesday against the Orioles, as Raleigh’s return date. He has been on the shelf since May 14.