Can you even believe what we’re watching? Our man Cal Raleigh, the guy who was AL MVP runner-up last year, who blasted 60 home runs and had a .948 OPS, is currently hitting an absolutely unfathomable .157 on the season. From “The Big Dumper” on top of the world to one of the least productive hitters in the entire sport in just a year, it’s a gut punch for every Mariners fan out there.
This isn’t just a slow start for Cal. We all know he’s a streaky hitter, but this is a season-long funk. Through 92 games, he’s only got 13 home runs and a dismal .570 OPS. Let that sink in. A .570 OPS, down from nearly a full point last year! He’s got a paltry 52 hits on the season, which is somehow fewer than the number of homers he hit in 2025. And his strikeout rate? It’s jumped from 26.7 percent to a painful 32.0 percent. We’re talking about a massive regression for a guy who was just a year ago carrying our offense. It really feels like he, and the Mariners, are running out of time to turn this thing around this season.
It’s tough, because while Raleigh’s struggles are certainly magnified here in the Emerald City, he’s not alone in a truly disappointing 2026. You look around the league and see guys like Kyle Tucker, a four-time All-Star, hitting .230 for the Dodgers after signing a monster $240 million deal, or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. being a major reason the Blue Jays are below .500. Even entire teams like the Mets, who had an ugly start in April and just never figured it out, ending up out of contention before the All-Star break and firing their manager Carlos Mendoza. At least the Phillies and Red Sox managed to turn their seasons around after similar ugly starts! It’s just another reminder of how humbling baseball can be. Oh, and did we mention the Mariners got absolutely routed 22-0 by the Brewers this year? That one still stings.
So, where does that leave us with Cal? We’ve got to hold onto hope. We’re in August now, late in the season, and if “The Big Dumper” can just get hot over these last few weeks, he could at least take some momentum into 2027. We need that fire back, that power at the plate. Every single one of us bleeding green and blue will be watching every at-bat, hoping for that spark to ignite for next season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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