Ken Griffey Jr. expresses his reaction to Cal Raleigh's impressive 2025 baseball season.
Mariners' Cal Raleigh Breaks Historic Home Run Record, Draws Praise from Legendary Ken Griffey Jr.
Cal Raleigh, the Seattle Mariners' catcher, has made history by becoming the second player in the franchise's history to hit 50 home runs in a single season, joining the esteemed ranks of Ken Griffey Jr.
During a conversation on MLB Network Radio's The Leadoff Spot, hosted by Steve Phillips and Xavier Scruggs, Griffey Jr. praised Raleigh's exceptional performance, describing him as a player who puts the team on his back and is having an unbelievable season.
Raleigh, who currently leads the American League in home runs, seemed surprised by his own achievement, admitting that it came out of nowhere, even to himself. The 50th home run, hit from the right side of the plate, made him the first player in MLB history to hit at least 20 home runs from both sides of the plate in the same season.
As Raleigh's home run count starts to set a bar that's equal to nobody else who has achieved this feat, Manager Dan Wilson is trying not to lose sight of what the catcher is doing. Wilson acknowledged the significance of Raleigh's accomplishment, particularly given his position behind the plate.
The conversation between Griffey Jr. and the MLB Network Radio hosts was broadcasted on August 26, 2025, and can be accessed via this link: https://t.co/fGPbvbj8w4. The discussion was accompanied by a picture.
Meanwhile, Griffey Sr., when asked about his seasons where he put the team on his back, responded with a simple yet memorable phrase: "Stay out of my way." Despite the lack of relevant search results regarding Griffey Jr.'s mentality during the years he showed performances similar to Raleigh's, it's clear that the younger Griffey found inspiration in his father's legacy.
Raleigh, who hit a career-high of 34 home runs in the 2024 season, seems to be in a league of his own this year. His current pace is for just over 61 home runs, which is close to Aaron Judge's American League record of 62.
As Raleigh continues to break records and redefine what's possible for a catcher, one thing is certain: it's a lot of fun to watch his performance. For Mariners fans, it's a season they won't soon forget.
