Mariners Stars Raleigh and Rodriguez Vow to Finish the Job in 2026

After heartbreak in 2025, the Mariners' young core is determined to reach the World Series this season.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 8:55pm

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Mariners stars Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez opened up about the sting of last season's ALCS loss and their resolve to get the team over the hump in 2026. Raleigh, who hit 60 home runs in 2025, and Rodriguez, one of the game's top young talents, are embracing the high expectations as the Mariners look to build on their recent success and finally reach the World Series.

Why it matters

The Mariners have emerged as one of the top teams in the American League, but their failure to reach the World Series in 2025 after coming so close has left the team and its passionate fan base hungry to finish the job. Raleigh and Rodriguez are the faces of the franchise, and their mindset heading into 2026 will be crucial to the team's championship aspirations.

The details

Raleigh and Rodriguez both spoke openly about the heartbreak of 2025, when the Mariners blew a 3-1 lead to the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the ALCS and fell just short of their first World Series appearance. While Raleigh acknowledged the sting will linger, both players expressed a determination to use that experience to fuel them in 2026. Rodriguez, in particular, said the playoff run has given him and the team a new level of confidence and experience that will benefit them going forward.

  • The Mariners' 2025 season ended in heartbreak in the ALCS.
  • Raleigh and Rodriguez spoke about their 2026 outlook at the Mariners' FanFest event on Saturday.

The players

Cal Raleigh

The Mariners' star catcher, who hit 60 home runs in 2025 and has become a beloved figure in the Seattle sports community.

Julio Rodriguez

One of the top young talents in baseball, Rodriguez is entering his fifth season with the Mariners and is looking to put it all together for a full championship-caliber campaign.

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What they’re saying

“Part of me is like, I don't know if you really ever move on. I think, essentially, you're going to be feeling that one for a long time.”

— Cal Raleigh (mlb.com)

“That's something that you kind of carry with you. It's just the experience, something that you now have. I feel like that's something that I carry with me, like the experience that I had in those [playoff] games. And I feel like it's going to help me to become a better player, and come with kind of like a little adjustment of mentality for this new year.”

— Julio Rodriguez (mlb.com)

What’s next

The Mariners will look to build on their 2025 success and finally reach the World Series in 2026, with Raleigh and Rodriguez leading the charge.

The takeaway

The Mariners' heartbreaking 2025 playoff exit has fueled their young stars Raleigh and Rodriguez, who are determined to use that experience to power the team to the World Series in 2026 and deliver the championship the city of Seattle has been waiting for.