Mariners Catcher Cal Raleigh Struggling Early in 2026 Season

Three key stats point to concerning issues for the All-Star backstop

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:37pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the deconstructed movements of a baseball catcher, rendered in a palette of navy, green, and orange, conveying the disconnect between the player's mechanics and his poor performance at the plate.A cubist interpretation of a struggling catcher's swing highlights the disconnect between his mechanics and on-field production.Seattle Today

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, a Gold Glove winner and 60-homer slugger, is off to a rough start in the 2026 MLB season. His high strikeout rate, plummeting hard-hit percentage, and declining exit velocity have raised major red flags for the Mariners as they try to contend in the AL West.

Why it matters

Raleigh's struggles are a big reason for the Mariners' lackluster 8-13 start to the season. As one of their key offensive contributors, his prolonged slump could derail Seattle's playoff hopes if he can't turn things around quickly.

The details

Through 21 games, Raleigh has a .163 batting average, .528 OPS, and 56 OPS+. His strikeout rate has spiked to 33.3%, up from 29% last year. Additionally, his hard-hit rate has plummeted from 49.6% to 26.1%, and his average exit velocity has dropped from 91.3 mph to 83.3 mph.

  • Raleigh's struggles began in the World Baseball Classic earlier this year.
  • The Mariners are 8-13 to start the 2026 MLB season.

The players

Cal Raleigh

A Gold Glove-winning catcher for the Seattle Mariners who hit 60 home runs in 2025.

Joel Reuter

A writer for Bleacher Report who highlighted Raleigh's concerning early-season stats.

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What they’re saying

“However, his 29 strikeouts and 33.3 percent strikeout rate this season have made it a legitimate concern. Add to that a plummeting hard-hit rate (49.6 to 26.1 percent) and average exit velocity (91.3 to 83.3 mph), and alarm bells are ringing in Seattle.”

— Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report Writer

What’s next

The Mariners will be closely monitoring Raleigh's performance in the coming weeks to see if this is an early-season slump or a more prolonged issue. If his struggles continue, the team may need to consider lineup changes or roster moves to address the problem.

The takeaway

Raleigh's early-season woes are a major concern for the Mariners, who are counting on the All-Star catcher to be a key offensive contributor. His high strikeout rate, lack of hard contact, and declining exit velocity are all red flags that the team will need to address if they hope to turn their season around and make a playoff push.