Mashing homers and attending classes. Triple-A baseball isn’t the only test Cal Raleigh has aced of late.
He mashed 29 home runs and drove in 82 runs in 2019, his first full season as a pro ballplayer. It was the Seattle Mariners prospect’s first season hopping on buses for five straight months, living out of hotels and dealing with the grind of a 140-game season. The Tacoma Rainiers switch-hitting catcher spent the next offseason exactly how you’d expect… going back to school?
Cal Raleigh is Fulfilling Two Lifelong Dreams
Raleigh, who is known more for his constant work ethic than his R&R techniques, went back to Florida State University to cap off a Business Entrepreneurship degree. Because why not? After admittedly living like a true college student, he finished up his classes at home during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now a college grad, Cal Raleigh is approaching another lifelong dream. The Mariners No. 7 prospect (MLB Pipeline) is on the cusp of his Major League debut. He’s making a strong case for his name to be called too. Raleigh enters Thursday riding a career-long 18-game hit streak. The North Carolina native also nearly cleared the Great Wall of Cheney against Salt Lake.
If being a switch-hitting catcher who dabbles in academia isn’t enough, Raleigh made his first career start at first base on Tuesday.
See Cal Raleigh in Action
Cal Raleigh is always striving to learn and grow, and never ceases to surprise. So we mean it when we say that if you come watch Cal play at Cheney Stadium, you might see him do something he’s never done before.
The Rainiers and Sacramento River Cats are starting at six-game series on Thursday night at R House. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. PT, and Cal will be behind the dish for Tacoma. Get tickets here.
Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto will have full coverage on TacomaRainiers.com. All 2021 Rainiers games, home and away, can also be heard for free on the MiLB First Pitch app. HD video broadcasts of every home game can be viewed with an MiLB.TV subscription. (Use code: RAINIERS to save $10 on an annual subscription.)
About the Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The Rainiers are a member of the Triple-A West. Tacoma has been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the Rainiers moniker in 1995.
Single-game tickets for all remaining 2021 Rainiers home games are now available. Questions regarding season tickets can be directed to Tickets@WeRTacoma.com.
The most up-to-date news and notes about the Tacoma Rainiers and Cheney Stadium can be found at WeRTacoma.com, or by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand), Instagram (@tacomarainiers) and liking the team on Facebook.
June 7, 2023