Mariners manager Scott Servais has high praise for Cal Raleigh

Since the start of 2022, Cal Raleigh has been the primary catcher for the Seattle Mariners, posting a .774 OPS in 119 games in 2022 and a .788 OPS in 123 thus far in 2023. 

Being the everyday catcher and working with the pitching staff tied for the lowest ERA in MLB at 3.72, he has earned high praise from his manager, Scott Servais. 

 “Every team’s in that spot this time of year. Cal’s really valuable, really important to us with what he does with our pitchers, and obviously what he brings offensively," Servais said. 

Raleigh's primary value is from his bat, as he has the sixth-highest WRC+, a stat that attempts to value a hitter based on their production, with 100 being the league average, where he sits at 117. His 26 HRs lead all catchers, but he has begun to become better at managing a pitching staff without sacrificing his production at the plate. 

“I don’t think he gets quite enough credit yet,” Servais said. “It’s starting to come, but you’ll see even more of it because he’s pretty unique at what he does. Not many catchers in the league catch as much as he does and have the big slugging percentage. He can really hit the long ball.”

Servais said that Raleigh is the player that would hurt most if he was not a part of the team, as he brings toughness and consistent production working with the pitching staff while being one of the best hitters from behind the plate. 

Good catchers make winning a championship easier, and Raleigh can make the Mariners contenders. Willson Contreras had a 122 OPS+ in 2016 and Buster Posey had an OPS+ no lower than 133 in the Giants' three World Series runs. With his 117 OPS+ in 2023, Raleigh looks to be the next great offensive catcher to help lead his team to a World Series title.