Man, what a ride 2026 was, and not in a good way for our big slugger, Cal Raleigh. He just went under the knife for a left shoulder acromioclavicular (AC) debridement procedure, a move that the team is hoping will get him back to being the offensive anchor we know he can be. His struggles were a major reason the Mariners missed the postseason last year, and now all eyes are on 2027 for a major bounce-back.
From MVP Runner-Up to a .664 OPS
It feels like just yesterday we were watching Cal absolutely mash, finishing second in AL MVP voting back in 2025 after hitting an astounding 60 home runs. That was pure Emerald City magic, right? But 2026 was a completely different story, and it was tough to watch. Raleigh’s numbers dropped hard, with him hitting a rough .182/.296/.368, only putting up 23 homers and a .664 OPS. You could tell something wasn’t right, and the official word now is that he was battling an injury. It’s a huge bummer for a guy who’s supposed to be a cornerstone of our offense, and it definitely cost us.
Hoping for a Full Recovery and All-Star Form
The good news is that the surgery happened, and Bob Nightengale from USA Today reported that Raleigh is expected to be fully recovered for the start of next season’s activities. Surgery is never ideal, nobody wants to see our guys hurt, but knowing what was bothering him and that it’s getting fixed? That’s a relief. We’re all hoping this procedure is exactly what Cal needs to get back to his All-Star form. Imagine him healthy, swinging freely, and launching bombs over the wall at T-Mobile Park again. That’s the Cal Raleigh we need, the one who can truly anchor this offense.
So, as we look ahead to 2027, the stakes are sky-high for Cal. We need him healthy and productive if we want to get back into contention. The team’s fortunes will heavily depend on him showing up next season ready to reclaim his spot as one of the league’s top catchers. We’ll be counting the days until we see him back behind the plate, ready to do some damage.
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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