Now Reading: Big Dumper Cal Raleigh suffers one of baseball’s worst season drop-offs
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Big Dumper Cal Raleigh suffers one of baseball’s worst season drop-offs
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, known as 'Big Dumper,' is experiencing a historic slump a year after hitting 60 home runs. He has managed just 12 homers in 2026, putting him on…
The Story in Brief
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, known as 'Big Dumper,' is experiencing a historic slump a year after hitting 60 home runs. He has managed just 12 homers in 2026, putting him on pace for a 43-homer decline from his 2025 breakout season. His on-base-plus-slugging percentage has fallen to.574, the worst in the majors among qualified hitters. Hindustan Times reports that no player since Hack Wilson in 1931 has seen such a sharp drop-off.
Raleigh participated in the World Baseball Classic and started the season slowly, hitting.161 into mid-May. He also dealt with a side injury and an 0-for-38 slump. Since returning from the injured list, he is hitting.163 with five home runs. The Mariners, who had World Series hopes, are now below.500 and fighting for a playoff spot.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that the World Baseball Classic ruined Cal Raleigh's season is tempting but lazy. Several WBC participants are thriving. A side injury and a horrific 0-for-38 slump suggest a deeper physical or mechanical problem, not just a disrupted spring. Until Raleigh strings together a month of hard contact, the 'bust' label is premature. The real test: can he even reach 20 home runs?
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
