Sports Illustrated Crowns Cal Raleigh Breakout Star of the Year

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Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners reacts after the top of the second inning against the Detroit Tigers in game five of the American League Division Series at T-Mobile Park.

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has been named Sports Illustrated’s 2025 Breakout Star of the Year. The honor caps off the stars dominant season in the MLB. The honor is awarded annually to one athlete across all sports who “unexpectedly dominated the sports conversation, making the leap from skilled performer to household name,” Per an update from the Seattle Mariners following the news.

For Raleigh, the achievement came following historic production on both sides of the ball.

Raleigh’s Stats and Achievements

Raleigh’s 2025 campaign was nothing short of extraordinary. The 29-year-old not only set the single-season home run record for a catcher, but for a switch-hitter as well. Alongside that feat Raleigh led the AL with 125 RBIs. He hit career highs with a .241 batting average, and .359 on-base percentage.

Additionally, Raleigh led the AL in playing time for primary catchers, by both plate appearances (705) and innings caught (1,072).

Additionally, Raleigh won the Home Run Derby, the only Mariner other than Ken Griffey Jr. to accomplish the feat. Raleigh was a first-time All-Star for the 2025 season. He also earned both MLBPA Players Choice Awards’ and the Sporting News’ MLB Player of the Year.

Back in 2024, Raleigh received an AL Golden Glove Award, the first catcher in Mariners history to do so.

Thanks to his defensive efforts at the plate, Raleigh helped the Mariners win the AL West. They went on to the championship series for the first time since 2001. Eventually losing out to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Despite finishing second in the AL MVP Race, he received praise for both his offensive and defensive efforts all season.

Mariners Future

In March of this year, Raleigh signed a six-year, $105 million contract extension with the team. Not only does he put up record-breaking numbers, but Raleigh acts as leader, and an incredibly smart player.

At the conclusion of a disappointing 2024 season for the Mariner’s, Raleigh spoke out for the team,

“We got to commit to winning. We have to commit to going and getting those players you see other teams going out, going for, getting big-time pitchers, getting big-time hitters and we have to do that to keep up.”

The next day, Raleigh apologized for his statement, despite receiving support from fan and teammates. However, his apology was not necessarily for what he said. More likely it was for when he said it.

Raleigh continued to discuss the team, but with the right people. During his contract negotiations, he addressed the front office about the current state of the team,

“That was the No. 1 priority for me: Is this organization and team committed to winning? Obviously, long term, but also right now, because we have a window.”

Shortly after, the Mariners signed Eugenio Suarez, and Raleigh commented on the move,

“This is what we talked about in Spring Training, when I was looking to sign here long term. And these were the things we talked about, these moments, and it makes you feel good about those guys following through.”

Sydney Jones Sydney Jones is a sports writer covering all things Golf, Mariners, and Seahawks for Heavy.com. She has experience covering the intersection of sports and human interest stories for multiple publications. Originally from Montana, she recently relocated to Seattle and is enjoying the new experience of being surrounding by live professional sports and rooting for a common team while writing about them. More about Sydney Jones