There had been loads of intriguing storylines heading into Sunday’s World Baseball Classic semifinal between Team USA and the Dominican Republic, arguably the 2 finest groups remaining within the event. And thanks to Randy Arozarena, this included the query of if Cal Raleigh would snub Mariners teammate Julio Rodríguez?
In the top, fans had been ‘cheated’ out of discovering how the following chapter of Handshakegate would play out, with Will Smith being named as beginning catcher for Team USA forward of Raleigh. And whereas we strongly suspect Rodríguez would have dealt with issues more in line with Josh Naylor than Arozarena, one potential motive for Raleigh’s absence might effectively trigger some angst amongst Mariners fans.
During the sixth inning of Team USA’s 2-1 win versus the Dominican Republic, Fox Sports announcer Joe Davis remarked that supervisor Mark DeRosa had a very good downside in having two wonderful catchers to select between. But with Raleigh, one thing is in the best way.
“Raleigh is hitless so far and said his swing is just not in a great place,” Davis mentioned. “It often isn’t at this time of year. If they get to the championship game, it is then going to be who has played best to that point that Mark DeRosa was going to choose to start.”
Cal Raleigh has been a disappointment for Team USA on the WBC
The proof of that is there in that the 2025 All-Star is hitless in 9 at-bats for Team USA (along with his saving grace being that he has drawn 4 walks and subsequently scored 4 runs). And as a lot as we recognize that is nothing uncommon for this time of yr, no Mariners fan likes to hear that Raleigh’s swing just isn’t in a great place.
In a traditional case of notion being actuality, the interpretation and projection of Raleigh’s present scenario comes down to whether or not you are a glass half-full or half-empty form of an individual. On the constructive aspect of issues, he solely batted .186 final spring, however then went on to turn out to be simply the seventh participant in Major League historical past to hit 60 home runs in a season.
On the flip aspect, the Mariners’ clubhouse chief is sort of sure to regress from final season, with the truth that he mainly achieved perfection from either side of the plate throughout 2025. As per Foolish Baseball, his swing similarity score of 96.3 percent was the very best amongst all qualifying switch-hitters.
It actually was an ideal storm of types, main to the inevitability that Raleigh will not be as efficient this coming season — not that anybody would even count on him to be after a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. (Unless you are Sammy Sosa, who hit 60 homers 3 times.) Really, it is about how a lot of a step again he takes in 2026, with any swing points solely factoring in as a possible detrimental.
Easier mentioned than carried out for Mariners fans not to fear about Cal Raleigh
From our perspective, we favor to take a glass half-full method when it comes to Raleigh, with him not even being that far off getting himself on observe and simply needing a little bit bit extra luck. Case in level being the WBC quarterfinals, when he simply hooked a protracted fly ball foul versus Team Canada.
In addition, it is not as if the 2024 Platinum Glove winner has ever been probably the most constant when it comes to making contact with the ball, with final yr’s .247 batting common representing a career-high. No, it is extra about how explosive he’s when he does make contact, with most projections nonetheless having him being across the 40 home-run mark this coming season.
Overall, it is our rivalry that Raleigh might be okay, with him nonetheless having time to fine-tune his swing as soon as he will get again to Peoria for the rest of spring coaching. At the identical time, we notice the one factor which is able to alleviate any fears about him might be outcomes on the sector, such is the predisposition of Mariners fans to all the time count on one thing to go improper with their beloved workforce.
