Son of former Tennessee head coach breaks Johnny Bench's home run record
Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh is leading Major League Baseball in home runs during the 2025 season, following Friday's games.
Raleigh has 29 home runs and 63 RBIs for the Mariners in 2025. He went 3-for-4 and hit two home runs in Seattle's, 9-4, victory over the Cubs. He also recorded four runs, three RBIs and one walk.
He set a record for most home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break. The previous mark of 28 was set by Johnny Bench in 1970.
Raleigh played at Florida State and was an All-America standout. He was selected in the third round of the 2018 MLB draft (No. 90 overall) by the Mariners and debuted on July 11, 2021. Raleigh earned Gold Glove Award and Platinum Glove Award honors in 2024.
He is the son of former Tennessee head coach Todd Raleigh.
Todd Raleigh coached the Vols from 2008-11. At Tennessee, he compiled a 108-113 (42-78 SEC) record in four seasons. Todd Raleigh went to Tennessee after serving as head coach at Western Carolina from 2000-07. He compiled a 257–209 (132–101 SoCon) record with the Catamounts.
More: Tennessee baseball draft projections after MLB combine
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Yankees 0, Angels 4: Good news and bad news following third consecutive shutout loss
There are slumps, and then there's what's happening in the Bronx right now—a full-on offensive blackout no one saw coming. For a team built on star power and steep expectations, the New York Yankees have turned a rough patch into a nightmare. Advertisement Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels marked their fifth consecutive defeat and third straight shutout. The frustration is no longer simmering—it's boiling over. Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images A once-feared lineup now can't buy a run It's baffling to witness. This isn't a lineup filled with journeymen or rookies getting their feet wet. This is a team with four former MVPs, multiple All-Stars, and enough power to light up scoreboards from coast to coast. And yet, they haven't scored a run in 29 innings. Yes, twenty-nine. It doesn't feel real. The Angels came into this series ranked 24th in ERA across Major League Baseball. Not exactly a pitching factory. Advertisement But they've silenced the Yankees in back-to-back games like they've suddenly become the late-'90s Braves. Kyle Hendricks turns back the clock On Tuesday night, it wasn't a Cy Young winner dealing on the mound. It was Kyle Hendricks, who entered the game with a 4.79 ERA. He's a savvy vet, sure—but he's also struggled mightily this season. Yet against this Yankees lineup, Hendricks looked like a reincarnation of Greg Maddux. He threw six shutout innings, allowing only four hits, never once appearing rattled. Everything he tossed felt like it had a purpose, while the Yankees flailed like a boxer swinging at shadows. Will Warren flashes potential in a tough-luck loss The one silver lining came from rookie starter Will Warren. While his outing will be buried under the weight of another loss, he was quietly impressive in his own right. Advertisement Warren struck out 11 batters over six innings, issuing zero walks. His stuff was sharp, and the swings and misses kept coming. He did give up three runs, but with no offensive support, it felt like he needed to be perfect. Pitching under pressure becomes suffocating when you know every mistake might be the difference. That's where Warren found himself Tuesday—and it's a place no young pitcher wants to be. Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Giancarlo Stanton is hitting like he never left If there's a sliver of hope in this dismal stretch, it's Giancarlo Stanton. The oft-injured slugger returned on Monday and has looked better than anyone could have hoped. Advertisement After a two-hit effort in his first game back, he followed it with two more knocks on Tuesday. His swing looks smooth. His timing doesn't seem off. He's locked in—and the Yankees desperately need him to stay that way. With the rest of the offense in freefall, Stanton might be the only man capable of sparking something. He's always been a streaky hitter. The Yankees could use one of his hot stretches now more than ever. The pressure mounts with every passing inning There's a certain point where numbers start to lose their meaning. Twenty-nine scoreless innings isn't just a stat—it's a symptom. It reveals confusion, pressure, and possibly panic in a clubhouse built to chase October. Advertisement It's like watching a supercar sputter on an empty tank, beautiful on the outside but stuck on the side of the road. Every inning without a run is another reminder that something's fundamentally wrong. The Yankees don't just need a win. They need a wake-up call. Popular reading: Yankees make big change to leadoff man — rookie outfielder gets a promotion Related Headlines
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mets lefty reliever will begin ‘extended' rehab assignment on Tuesday
Brooks Raley has waited more than a year for this. The sting of Tommy John surgery in May 2024 took more than just time; it cost him the rhythm of a game he knows intimately. But now, with a minor league rehab stint set to begin, the left-hander is ready to climb his way back. Advertisement Think of it like a stormed-out symphony where the conductor finally lifts his baton again — timing, grace, and all. Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Mets bullpen patchwork needs reinforcements soon With the New York Mets already losing Danny Young and A.J. Minter to injury this season, the bullpen's left-handed depth has been tested. While Brandon Waddell has stepped in admirably with a 3.38 ERA over 10.2 innings, and Jose Castillo has dazzled with a 0.90 ERA since his arrival, the group still lacks a seasoned, durable arm. Raley, if healthy, offers more than just innings — he brings poise, matchup versatility, and a proven track record in high-leverage spots. Raley's rehab begins, but return won't be rushed According to Mets insider Anthony DiComo, Raley will start his minor league rehab assignment with Class A St. Lucie on Tuesday. This won't be a quick tune-up. The Mets plan to let Raley take his time, with reports indicating the assignment could stretch several weeks — potentially the full 30-day maximum. Advertisement Given the nature of his recovery, that timeline would have Raley rejoining the major league roster right after the All-Star break. The track record that gives New York hope It's not blind faith. The Mets have seen what Raley can do when healthy, and that history matters. In 2023, Raley pitched 54.2 innings for New York and delivered a rock-solid 2.80 ERA. He was a trusted arm in the late innings and didn't shy away from the moment. Even before that, Raley had proven capable of handling tough left-handed matchups and bringing reliability to whichever bullpen he joined. brooks raley, mets Smart front office move positions Raley for long-term impact When the Mets signed Raley to a one-year deal this past April, they did so knowing he wouldn't be ready right away. Advertisement The foresight to include a club option for 2026 was a savvy decision — a bet on a pitcher whose ceiling remains impactful if his arm holds up. If his rehab continues without setback, this July could mark not only Raley's return but the beginning of a quietly important stretch for New York's bullpen. Return hinges on patience and precision Twelve and a half months post-surgery, Raley isn't rushing his way back. And neither are the Mets — nor should they. A bullpen thrives on consistency, and forcing a premature return could undo months of progress. Still, the light is flickering at the end of the tunnel. Advertisement Raley's comeback won't be flashy, but it doesn't need to be. It just needs to be steady. One pitch, one inning at a time. Popular reading: Meet the Mets' newest relief pitching weapon Related Headlines
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mets' fireballer enters MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects list
There's a kind of electricity in baseball that doesn't come from scoreboards or stadium lights—it comes from promise. From that moment when a prospect stops being a name on a backfield lineup card and starts knocking on the big-league door. That moment just arrived for Nolan McLean. Advertisement In a season already brimming with questions for the New York Mets, one answer is beginning to emerge with clarity and power. The 23-year-old right-hander has officially entered MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, a testament to his dominance and rising stature in a system that is always hungry for arms. His arrival coincides with the graduation of Kumar Rocker, creating a fitting trade of elite-level promise. Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images Dominance in Binghamton signals something special McLean began his 2025 season in Double-A Binghamton, where hitters quickly learned he was no ordinary fastball-slider guy. Across five starts, he carved through Eastern League lineups like a hot knife through a butter sculpture—allowing just a 1.37 ERA and striking out 30 batters in 26.1 innings. Advertisement It wasn't just the results—it was the method. McLean worked with precision, blending his mid-90s fastball and sweeping slider with surgical command. For scouts and player development staff, it was a clear sign: the kid was ready for a bigger test. Triple-A proves he's more than a flash in the pan The jump to Triple-A can expose flaws. The International League is notorious for inflating ERAs and humbling even the best minor league arms. But for McLean, the jump felt more like a continuation than a challenge. In seven games (five starts) with the Syracuse Mets, McLean has maintained a pristine 2.56 ERA over 38.2 innings, adding 35 strikeouts to his growing résumé. Advertisement His ability to suppress power and miss bats in such a hitter-friendly environment makes his performance even more eye-opening. Pitchers are often compared to painters—crafting masterpieces one brushstroke at a time. McLean, however, works more like a sculptor: chiseling away at hitters' confidence with every sharp cutter and darting slider. Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images The arsenal that has scouts buzzing The raw numbers only tell part of McLean's story. What truly sets him apart is the depth and deception of his pitch mix and how well he spins the ball. The fastball consistently lives in the mid-90s and occasionally touches 98 mph. It pairs beautifully with a vicious sweeping slider that has already been dubbed 'big-league ready.' Advertisement He also flashes a low-90s cutter that jams lefties, a fading changeup in the high-80s to disrupt timing, and a curveball to add shape variation. His ability to spin the ball is elite—scouts have been known to circle his bullpen sessions like hawks. McLean is a breath of fresh, fireball-infused air for the Mets. What's next for Nolan McLean? It's not just fans who are taking notice. Mets brass have been closely monitoring McLean's progress, and with the big-league club searching for reliable rotation depth, his name is being discussed more frequently behind closed doors. If he keeps this up, it's only a matter of time before McLean hears his name called at Citi Field. Barring injury or setback, a late-summer debut feels not just possible, but probable. Advertisement From Double-A buzz to Triple-A brilliance, Nolan McLean is showing the baseball world why he's more than just a stat line—he's a future star in the making. Popular reading: Mets lefty reliever will begin 'extended' rehab assignment on Tuesday Related Headlines
