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Former FSU star Cal Raleigh becomes first catcher to win MLB Home Run Derby

On3 imageby:Ira Schoffel•07/15/25•

iraschoffel

On3 image
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) poses for a photo with his day Todd Raleigh and brother Todd Raleigh Jr. after winning the 2025 Home Run Derby at Truist Park. (Brett Davis-Imagn Images)

Former FSU baseball star Cal Raleigh’s incredible 2025 season continued Monday night as he won the Home Run Derby in Atlanta with 18 homers in the championship round. That gave him the edge over Tampa Bay Rays star Junior Caminero, who belted 15 in the finals.

Raleigh, in his fifth season with the Seattle Mariners, came into the All-Star break with 38 home runs — the most in the major leagues. He has a three-homer lead over Aaron Judge and a six-homer lead over Shohei Ohtani.

And Raleigh didn’t disappoint one bit during the Derby.

After narrowly advancing past the first round when his longest home run barely exceeded the distance of Athletics slugger Brent Rooker’s longest blast — the two had tied with 17 homers apiece — Raleigh cruised from there.

The former FSU star not only became the first Seminole to win the event, but also the first catcher in MLB history to do it. He is just the second Seattle Mariner to accomplish the feat, joining Ken Griffey Jr., who was in attendance and celebrated with him after his victory.

Raleigh, who is making his first All-Star appearance, will continue his assault on the record books once the All-Star break concludes.

With 38 homers, he already broke Johnny Bench’s record for most home runs by the break; Bench blasted 28 in 1970. The all-time MLB season record for homers by a catcher is 48 by Salvador Perez in 2021, so that is well within Raleigh’s reach.

He also could have his sights set on Griffey’s single-season record for home runs with the Mariners with 56.

Raleigh’s Derby accomplishment was even more special considering his father, Todd, was tossing him pitches and his 15-year-old brother, Todd Jr., was behind the plate.

“It means the world,” Raleigh said on the ESPN broadcast. “I could have hit zero home runs and had just as much fun. I just can’t believe we won. It’s unbelievable. …

“Getting to do it with my brother and my dad, I’m speechless.”

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