Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is on a tear like none other. It's almost weird to watch a Mariners game where he doesn't hit a home run.
Although he didn't go yard until late in Seattle's 12–3 win over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park Friday evening, he ended the night with two home runs for 38 total thus far on the season. And we haven't even hit the All-Star break yet.
The first came in the top of the eighth on a fly ball to left field that looked fairly effortless off the bat. It ended up clearing the wall for a solo shot that gave the Mariners an insurance run in a tight game.
Home run No. 37 for Cal Raleigh comes in a big spot 😮 pic.twitter.com/VNqDMlTYdw
— MLB (@MLB) July 12, 2025
Seattle opened the game up in the ninth, highlighted by a no-doubter off Raleigh's bat to deep left. This time, a grand slam became his 38th long ball of the year.
HR NO. 38 FOR CAL RALEIGH IS A GRAND SLAM 😤
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 12, 2025
(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/OVV54aXEKV
With the two-homer game, Raleigh moved one home run shy of San Francisco Giants left fielder Barry Bonds's record 39 home runs before the break, which he set in 2001. Per the Mariners, Raleigh became the first player with 38 or more homers and 80 or more RBIs before the All-Star Game since 1933—the same year the first All-Star Game was played.
Bonds hit 73 homers once his record-setting '01 campaign was all said and done, which remains the record for the most in an MLB season. Raleigh has the rest of the series in Detroit, two more contests, to potentially tie and pass Bonds for the most long balls before an All-Star break.
He's set to participate in the Home Run Derby in Georgia Monday before he starts at catcher for the American League in the All-Star Game.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Cal Raleigh Closing in on Barry Bonds Midseason Record After Two-Homer Game.
