Cal Raleigh Makes MLB History as First Catcher to Win Home Run Derby
You know, some moments in sports just hit different — not just because of the achievement, but because of the story behind it. That’s exactly what happened with Cal Raleigh. In a night filled with long balls, booming bats, and electric energy, the Mariners’ power-hitting catcher etched his name into baseball history. Cal Raleigh became the first catcher ever to win the MLB Home Run Derby, and honestly, it’s one of the coolest full-circle stories we’ve seen in a while.
It all went down at Truist Park, where Raleigh launched a staggering 54 home runs throughout the event. That included 37 in the final two rounds alone. The semifinals saw him go toe-to-toe with Pirates slugger Oneil Cruz, who had hit a ridiculous 513-foot bomb earlier in the night. But Raleigh stayed consistent and powered through to the final, where he edged out Junior Caminero 18-15 to take the crown.
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Now, what made this victory even more special wasn’t just the record-setting performance. Raleigh’s father, Todd, was on the mound pitching to him. His brother, Todd Jr., was behind the plate catching. It was a family affair — and if that doesn’t give you goosebumps, wait till you hear this: there's old video footage of a young 8-year-old Cal in his backyard, swinging for the fences, pretending he was in the Home Run Derby. That childhood dream just became a reality in the most unforgettable way.
And the celebration? Epic. Former WWE champion Cody Rhodes handed Cal the Derby title belt. The moment was pure magic. From pretending in the backyard to dominating under the bright lights, Raleigh made it count.
This win was more than symbolic. Raleigh joins Ken Griffey Jr. as just the second Mariner to ever win the Derby — and with this win, the Mariners now tie the Yankees for the most Home Run Derby titles in MLB history at four. Raleigh also became the first pre-Derby favorite to win since Bryce Harper did it back in 2018. His 38 homers heading into the All-Star break? Most ever by a Home Run Derby winner at that point in the season.
And he almost didn’t make it out of the first round. Tied with Oakland’s Brent Rooker at 17 homers, the tiebreaker came down to inches — literally. Raleigh’s longest shot beat Rooker’s by just 0.96 inches. Talk about clutch.
Just hours before putting on a show, Raleigh also got the call to represent Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. That’s a banner day by any standard. Baseball fans already know him as the "Big Dumper," but now he's something even bigger — a Home Run Derby champion, a trailblazer for catchers, and a reminder that baseball dreams really do come true.
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