SEATTLE -- It was never going to be a full off-day for Cal Raleigh.
Mired in a mini-slump to begin the regular season, the Mariners’ all-world catcher was out of Seattle’s starting lineup on Monday night against the Yankees -- but wound up being the hero in a 2-1 walk-off win.
Raleigh ripped a one-out single down the line off two-time All-Star David Bednar and past the outstretched glove of diving first baseman Ben Rice, which allowed Leo Rivas to score easily. Rivas led off with a single then went first-to-third on a single from Brendan Donovan.
It’s still preposterously early to say that this could be an inflection point to springboard Raleigh in 2026.
But given the topsy-turvy month that the AL MVP runner-up has gone through -- from not playing much in the World Baseball Classic, then falling behind in Spring Training reps before Opening Day -- it could steer him in a better direction.
“It'll be OK,” Raleigh said. “I know a lot of guys in that locker room, a lot of people across the league, are fighting the same thing. Guys are trying to find timing. And it's under a microscope more so now than it is in the middle of the season.”
Raleigh’s late breakthrough came after a 2-for-16 start to the season that included 11 strikeouts -- the most recent of which came when he pinch-hit in the designated hitter spot for Dominic Canzone in the seventh inning.
To start the season, Raleigh K’d in each of his first eight at-bats, tying the most for any non-pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961), and his 10 through the first four games were the most ever for a Mariners hitter.
Whether it was timing or routine, Raleigh was still finding his groove upon returning from the Classic after 18 days on March 19.
He only appeared in three games for Team USA, going 0-for-9 with six strikeouts, and there also wasn’t an avenue for him to go through his robust routine regularly, as the WBC venues featured multiple teams under the same roof on the same days. In other words, he couldn’t just go into the batting cage whenever he wanted.
And when he was in Arizona, Raleigh was scrambling to get as many at-bats as possible -- with extra reps in live batting practice before Cactus League play began and as many as eight at-bats per game on the back fields upon returning.
“I don't feel terrible in the box,” Raleigh said. “I feel like I've had some tough pitches, but at the same time, I just need to execute a little better.”
Yet, these were actually less pressing factors in why Mariners manager Dan Wilson opted to give Raleigh the day off behind the plate.
It was as much about load management.
The Mariners were actually more deliberate about Raleigh’s workload last year than it might’ve seemed, given that he logged 1,072 innings behind the plate (third-most in MLB). They anticipated a taper-off at some point and were prepared to act accordingly.
But that never happened. In fact, beyond his 60 homers, Raleigh played some of his best baseball in the playoffs.
Last year, Raleigh was slated for his first full off-day on May 6 in Sacramento but came off the bench and ripped a game-winning double. He didn’t end up getting that full off-day until June 8 in Anaheim.
When Raleigh entered Monday’s game, he did so as Seattle’s third DH of the night -- after Rob Refsnyder, who started against rough lefty Ryan Weathers, and Canzone, who makes up the other half of that full-time platoon.
And therein lies why Raleigh won’t see as much action at DH this year, after making 38 starts there in ‘25 as a way to keep his bat in the lineup during a historic season. He made another 121 starts at catcher, and played in all but three of the Mariners’ 174 games last season (including playoffs).
“The depth in our lineup, that certainly does help,” Wilson said, “and being able to not have to rely on him all the time for the DH spot too is great. And so I think this is an opportunity where it made a lot of sense today.”
For these factors and more, Raleigh lobbied the Mariners’ front office to bring back Mitch Garver as his backup -- a veteran he trusts immensely to hold things down when he’s not behind the dish.
Because it sounds like when Raleigh is off in ‘26, he’ll be more off than in ‘25. Except for moments like Monday, when he’s needed in a pinch.