Cal Raleigh MVP Decision Thursday: What Mariners Fans Need

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh just wrapped up one of the most eye-popping seasons in recent Major League Baseball history. He’s now one of three finalists for the American League MVP Award.

The MVP winner gets announced Thursday at 4 p.m. PT on MLB Network. Raleigh faces New York Yankees star Aaron Judge, and a lot of folks think this race could be one of the closest in years.

Raleigh’s year was wild—he put up record-breaking power numbers, hit historic milestones, and snagged accolades that put him in the same breath as some of the game’s legends. He’s really changed what people expect from a catcher these days.

Cal Raleigh’s Historic Home Run Power

Not many seasons in baseball get called “historic,” but Raleigh’s 2024 campaign honestly earns it. The Mariners’ backstop smashed 60 home runs—tying Babe Ruth’s legendary 1927 total.

That number also beats Salvador Perez’s record for catchers and breaks the mark for switch-hitters set by Mickey Mantle. Catchers usually don’t get close to this kind of power since their job behind the plate is so demanding.

A Switch-Hitter for the Record Books

Raleigh didn’t just hit for power; he did it from both sides of the plate, which is wild. He became the first switch-hitter in MLB history to hit 20 or more home runs from each side in a single season.

He also tied the MLB record with 11 multi-homer games. That’s the sort of stat that makes you do a double-take.

Dominating in Multiple Offensive Categories

His numbers go way beyond home runs. Raleigh finished with a .247/.359/.589 slash line and drove in 125 runs.

He led the American League in RBIs. That mix of power, patience, and run production earned him the Silver Slugger Award, which just feels right for the best offensive catcher this year.

Chasing Rare MVP History

If Raleigh wins, he’ll be just the 13th catcher ever to grab an MVP award. For Mariners fans, it would be the first MVP since Ichiro Suzuki back in 2001.

That’s how rare this is, even for stars.

The MVP Competition: Raleigh vs. Judge

Raleigh’s biggest hurdle is Aaron Judge, the Yankees outfielder who led MLB in several offensive categories. Judge is chasing his third MVP title.

Judge’s season was a monster in its own right, so this year’s vote has fans, analysts, and voters all fired up.

Betting Odds and Expert Predictions

As of Wednesday, betting markets had Judge at -330 and Raleigh at +250. So, yeah, Judge is the favorite on paper.

But a lot of experts think this could be a razor-thin vote—maybe the closest since that near-tie in 1938. Some even wonder if we’ll see an actual tie, which would be wild for baseball history.

How the MVP is Decided

Members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America vote on the award before the postseason. They use a weighted points system to rank players based on their value to their team during the regular season.

With Raleigh’s mix of offense and defense, some folks argue his case goes way beyond the usual stats.

Analysts Weigh In

Writers at places like The Seattle Times, USA Today, and ESPN have called Raleigh’s year one of the greatest ever by a catcher. His record-breaking numbers and steady play behind the plate have people comparing him to baseball’s all-time best.

Key Highlights of Raleigh’s Season

The countdown to Thursday’s MVP announcement is on. Baseball fans everywhere are bracing for a verdict that could crown a new chapter in Mariners history or reaffirm Aaron Judge’s reign as one of the sport’s most dominant players.

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Here is the source article for this story: Cal Raleigh’s MVP decision comes Thursday. Here’s what to know.