Cal Raleigh Aims to Fix Defensive Slip After Historic Season

Mariners catcher looks to rebound defensively in 2026 after drop-off from 2024 Platinum Glove campaign

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Cal Raleigh, the Seattle Mariners' star catcher, is looking to address defensive shortcomings that emerged in 2025 despite his historic 60-home run season. After winning the American League Platinum Glove Award in 2024, Raleigh's defensive metrics declined in 2025, including a drop in framing and blocking abilities. Raleigh acknowledges the need to improve his defense, which could become more crucial if his power numbers regress from the 60-homer mark.

Why it matters

Raleigh's defensive prowess is a key part of his value as an elite MLB catcher, and any slippage in that area could impact the Mariners' success, especially if his offense takes a step back. The introduction of new automated review systems in MLB also presents an opportunity for Raleigh to leverage his skills in contesting calls and improving his defensive impact.

The details

In 2024, Raleigh led the league in several defensive metrics, including ranking third in Catching Runs with a plus-15 rating. However, his defensive performance declined in 2025, with his Catching Runs value dropping to plus-seven and his framing ability declining from plus-13 to plus-seven. While he recorded no passed balls, his struggles with blocking pitches affected his overall defensive impact.

  • In 2024, Raleigh won the American League Platinum Glove Award.
  • In 2025, Raleigh's defensive metrics declined compared to his 2024 performance.

The players

Cal Raleigh

The Seattle Mariners' star catcher who hit 60 home runs in 2025 but saw a decline in his defensive performance.

Buster Olney

An ESPN analyst who is widely regarded as an expert on baseball and has quoted Raleigh addressing his defensive issues.

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What they’re saying

“When Raleigh was asked about this, he said he would take a look at the numbers and figure out why the analytics indicated his defense regressed in '25.”

— Buster Olney, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)

What’s next

The introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) in Major League Baseball could help Raleigh mitigate some of his defensive difficulties, as he demonstrated exceptional skill in contesting ball and strike calls during a trial run last spring.

The takeaway

Raleigh's defensive prowess is a crucial part of his value as an elite MLB catcher, and any slippage in that area could impact the Mariners' success. The new automated review systems in MLB present an opportunity for Raleigh to leverage his skills in contesting calls and improving his defensive impact, which could become even more important if his power numbers regress from the historic 60-homer mark.