Cal Raleigh made headlines last year by hitting 60 home runs, a remarkable feat that sparked discussions about his worthiness for the American League MVP award. Despite this offensive success, Raleigh’s defensive skills saw a noticeable dip during the 2025 season, even as he led the Seattle Mariners to the AL West championship.
After securing the AL Platinum Glove Award in 2024, when he topped defensive metrics including ranking third in Catching Runs with a plus-15, Raleigh’s defense in 2025 fell short of those standards. While still solid overall, his Catching Runs value dropped to plus-seven, and his framing ability declined from plus-13 to plus-seven. Although he recorded no passed balls, struggles with blocking pitches affected his overall defensive impact.
Raleigh Acknowledges Need to Address Defensive Shortcomings in 2026
Despite the defensive setbacks, Raleigh remains widely regarded as the top catcher in baseball going into the 2026 season, a view supported by experts like ESPN’s Buster Olney. Highlighting this, Olney quoted Raleigh addressing the issue:
“When Raleigh was asked about this, he said he would take a look at the numbers and figure out why the analytics indicated his defense regressed in ’25.”
While some variation in defensive output can occur from season to season, analysts point to Raleigh’s catching stance as a factor influencing his framing abilities. Specifically, his technique favors framing high strikes, while his effectiveness at calling low strikes has been mostly negative over the past five seasons.
At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, Raleigh’s size may contribute to challenges umpires face in spotting low strikes, suggesting his framing mechanics alone don’t fully explain the decline. This makes it uncertain if he can easily adjust to secure more favorable calls at the bottom of the strike zone simply by studying the numbers.
Opportunities Arise with New Automated Review System in MLB
Raleigh’s defensive outlook might improve thanks to the introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS), which is set to debut in Major League Baseball.
“Cal Raleigh is now 9 for 9 on challenges this Spring. pic.twitter.com/rA4xQnsoRd”
The ABS gives catchers an advantage in contesting ball and strike calls, and Raleigh demonstrated exceptional skill during a trial run last spring, flawlessly winning every challenge he initiated. This aptitude for reading and contesting calls could help him mitigate some of the defensive difficulties observed last season.
Defense Gains Importance as Offensive Expectations Adjust
Should Raleigh replicate his extraordinary 60-home run performance, defensive improvements would likely receive less attention, appearing as minor bonuses amid his offensive dominance. However, the likelihood of reaching that milestone again is low, which means that his defense will draw more scrutiny in 2026.
As fans and analysts anticipate a potential decrease in Raleigh’s power numbers, his ability to tighten up defensively will become critical in maintaining his status as the premier catcher. The evolving standards and tools like the ABS offer him both motivation and opportunity to confront these defensive challenges head-on.
Cal Raleigh is now 9 for 9 on challenges this Spring. pic.twitter.com/rA4xQnsoRd
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 23, 2025
