Cal Raleigh’s 2026 season has truly turned historically ugly, and if you haven’t seen the numbers, prepare for a gut punch. Our Seattle Mariners catcher is currently hitting a woeful .156 across 391 plate appearances, a stat so bad it’s drawing direct comparisons to a batter from the 1885 season. You read that right, folks: 1885!
The Unwanted History Raleigh is Chasing
According to Codify, Raleigh’s batting average puts him in the same incredibly unfortunate neighborhood as Joe Gerhardt’s 1885 season with the New York Giants. Gerhardt posted a paltry .155 average in 423 plate appearances that year. When you look at all qualified hitters with at least 391 plate appearances in MLB history, Raleigh currently stands second only to Gerhardt. Gerhardt’s 1885 campaign is practically a historical benchmark for the worst hitting seasons ever, where he finished with just 62 hits and a .399 OPS over 112 games. It’s a record no one wants to be near, and if Raleigh keeps this up, he’ll be at the top of an MLB list he desperately wants to avoid. He even went 0-for-3 with a walk in Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
From MVP Contender to 19th Century Comparison
This falloff is just insane, because last season, Cal Raleigh was one of baseball’s absolute best hitters. He crushed 60 home runs and drove in 125 RBI, all while maintaining a respectable .247 average. Think about that: he finished second to Aaron Judge in the AL MVP race last year! Now, he’s being compared to a 19th-century hitter at the worst possible levels. Raleigh himself took ownership of the team’s worsening offense last week after a tough loss to the New York Yankees. “We’re not playing well. That starts with me,” Raleigh told the Seattle Times’ Ryan Divish. “I’m awful. I’ve got to find a way to be better and to help bring the guys along. We just gotta play better. We’re just playing very, very, very bad baseball in every facet of the game.” His hitting struggles have definitely not helped our M’s. The team sits at 59-67, pending Wednesday’s result, and honestly, they look outside the playoff race right now.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, Seattle. Our M’s are fighting to stay relevant in August, and with Raleigh’s bat struggling this much, it feels like an uphill battle. We need our guys to step up, and for Cal to find that 2025 swing, and fast. The season hangs in the balance, and we’re all looking for a spark to ignite a late-season run.
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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