Team USA benches Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh for WBC semifinal

Raleigh has struggled at the plate, going 0-for-9 with 5 strikeouts in the tournament so far.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 8:23pm

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Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has been benched by Team USA for their World Baseball Classic semifinal matchup against the Dominican Republic. Raleigh has struggled mightily at the plate in the tournament, going 0-for-9 with 5 strikeouts, and manager Mark DeRosa has decided to start Dodgers catcher Will Smith instead.

Why it matters

Raleigh is coming off a historic 2022 season with the Mariners, but his lack of production in the WBC has led to him losing his starting job on the U.S. national team. This decision highlights the high stakes and competitive nature of the WBC, where even star players can be benched if they are not performing up to expectations.

The details

Raleigh's struggles at the plate have been the main reason for his benching, as he has failed to record a hit in 9 at-bats while striking out 5 times. He has also had a costly passed ball earlier in the tournament. With the powerful Dominican lineup on tap, manager Mark DeRosa has decided to go with the Dodgers' Will Smith behind the plate instead of Raleigh.

  • The U.S. will face the Dominican Republic in the WBC semifinal on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

The players

Cal Raleigh

The starting catcher for the Seattle Mariners, who has struggled mightily at the plate in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Will Smith

The starting catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who will replace Raleigh behind the plate for Team USA in the WBC semifinal.

Mark DeRosa

The manager of Team USA, who has decided to bench Raleigh in favor of Smith for the semifinal matchup against the Dominican Republic.

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What they’re saying

“It seems like manager Mark DeRosa could still go back to Raleigh if the U.S. makes the final. But it'll be Smith back there catching Paul Skenes against the powerful Dominican lineup, not Raleigh.”

— Billy Heyen, Author (sportingnews.com)

What’s next

If Team USA advances to the WBC final, it remains to be seen whether manager Mark DeRosa will reinstate Cal Raleigh as the starting catcher or stick with Will Smith.

The takeaway

This decision by Team USA highlights the high level of competition and pressure at the World Baseball Classic, where even star players like Cal Raleigh can be benched if they are not producing at the plate. It will be interesting to see if Raleigh can regain his starting job if the U.S. reaches the tournament final.