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Wall Street Journal
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
He's Known as ‘Big Dumper'—and He's the Hottest Name in Baseball
The most prodigious power hitter in the major leagues this season isn't Aaron Judge. It isn't Shohei Ohtani, either. It's actually an obscure Seattle Mariners catcher who until recently was less renowned for his performance on the field than for—to put it as politely as possible—his voluminous rear end. In the grand tradition of colorful baseball nicknames, Cal Raleigh is known as 'Big Dumper.' The explanation is exactly what you think. 'He's got a huge butt,' said Jarred Kelenic, Raleigh's former teammate in the minors. 'That's about as blunt as it gets.' Raleigh says his backside has been the subject of jokes for much of his life, but his infamous sobriquet exploded into the mainstream when he was first promoted to the Mariners in 2021. Kelenic decided to celebrate the occasion by posting on social media, 'Big dumper to the show.' Instantly, an inside joke that had existed within the confines of the clubhouse burst into public view—and a phenomenon was born. Over the past couple months, however, Raleigh has started to receive outsize attention for more than just his moniker. He has been nothing short of a revelation. In a year where Judge has looked like the second coming of Babe Ruth and Ohtani has cemented his status as a once-in-a-lifetime superhuman, nobody has hit more home runs than the Big Dumper. Raleigh entered Thursday with 23 homers, tied with Ohtani for the MLB lead. Sharing the leaderboard with the man who might be the most talented baseball player of all time would be impressive under any circumstance. But for a catcher—the most grueling and physically demanding position in the sport—what Raleigh is doing with his bat is unprecedented. 'This doesn't happen at this position,' Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said. 'Ever.' Typically, catchers aren't expected to contribute much on offense. They derive the most of their value from their role in handling the pitching staff. Raleigh does that exceedingly well: Last year, he won the Platinum Glove, an award that goes to the best overall defender in each league. (The Mariners marked the accomplishment in April by hosting a 'Platinum Dumper' bobblehead promotion, featuring a toy version of Raleigh in a full squat.) Somehow, his production on offense has been even better. By any measure, Raleigh is on pace to have perhaps the greatest hitting season for a catcher ever. Salvador Perez currently has the single-season record for home runs for a catcher, after he hit 48 for the Kansas City Royals in 2021. Only 33 of those homers, however, came when Perez was actually behind the plate, with the rest coming in games when he was serving as the designated hitter. Raleigh has started at catcher in 46 of the Mariners' 60 games. He has hit 21 of his 23 homers while behind the plate, halfway to Javy López's 2003 record of 42 homers hit while catching. The season is barely a third over. Meanwhile, Raleigh through Wednesday has posted an on-base-plus-slugging percentage of 1.002, which puts him alongside Mike Piazza and Joe Mauer for the best ever for a catcher in the American or National Leagues. Raleigh's emergence hasn't come entirely out of nowhere. A third-round pick out of Florida State in 2018, Raleigh has averaged 30 homers a year over the past three seasons. It prompted the Mariners in March to give him a $105 million contract extension that could keep Big Dumper in Seattle through 2031. The difference this season is that 28-year-old Raleigh is doing more than just hitting homers. He entered Thursday with a batting average of .264, far superior to his lifetime mark of .224. He is striking out less, walking more and, perhaps most important, not swinging at balls. Last year, Raleigh offered at 33% pitches out of the strike zone. This season, he's at 28.6%. 'The value to the team on all sides of the ball is so unique in our sport,' Hollander said. 'He's becoming the best version of himself.' Founded as an expansion team in 1977, the Mariners have long appeared cursed. They are the only active MLB franchise to have never appeared in the World Series. They missed the playoffs for 20 consecutive seasons before finally snapping the drought in 2022, clinching their postseason spot on a walk-off homer by Raleigh. But now the Mariners are in playoff position again—thanks in large part to Big Dumper. Raleigh has said he didn't care much for his nickname at first, though he has come to embrace it. At a game back in March, the Mariners gave away T-shirts emblazoned with a slogan that would prove prescient for the season to come. 'Big Dumper Era.' Write to Jared Diamond at
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cal Raleigh joins 20 HR club with 3-run blast
The post Cal Raleigh joins 20 HR club with 3-run blast appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Seattle Mariners got a bargain when they signed Cal Raleigh to a six-year, $105 million extension ahead of the 2025 season. The Platinum Glove catcher has been on an absolute tear this year and on Friday, he added to his impressive stats. Advertisement Raleigh wasted no time, crushing the first pitch he saw in his first at-bat for a three-run home run and becoming the second player to reach 20 homers on the season, per MLB on X. He then went deep again in the eighth inning, launching a 94 mph four-seamer from Cole Sands into the right field stands for his 21st home run of the year. The long ball gave the Mariners a 6-3 lead. Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits Nos. 20 and 21 Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images The two homer effort would have given Raleigh the MLB lead but Shohei Ohtani also had a big game, hitting two of his own in the Dodgers' World Series rematch with the Yankees. Advertisement Raleigh has developed into the best catcher in baseball this season. Although he broke out back in 2023 and had a remarkable season last year, Raleigh is putting it all together in 2025. He's now up to 21 home runs and 42 RBI, giving the Mariners an unfair advantage with massive offensive production from the catcher position. Seattle has been solid this season, entering play on Friday 30-25 with a half-game lead over the second-place Houston Astros in the AL West. But the Mariners have lost four of their last five games. And despite Raleigh's massive effort, the team blew the lead he helped build, allowing the Minnesota Twins to take the game into extra innings and then giving up six runs in the top of the 10th. The Mariners have improved offensively this season but their elite starting rotation has been banged up. While Logan Gilbert is close to a return and Bryce Miller isn't too far behind, Seattle is struggling to hang onto its division lead. If the rotation can get healthy, Seattle could decide to take advantage of Raleigh's special season by adding at the trade deadline. Ken Rosenthal noted the Mariners might pursue a first baseman and a right fielder, as they're getting poor production from both positions. If they do go that route, the team can afford to upgrade given its excellent farm system
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Marlins' Ronny Simon responds to 3-error nightmare in loss to Padres
The post Marlins' Ronny Simon responds to 3-error nightmare in loss to Padres appeared first on ClutchPoints. Miami Marlins rookie Ronny Simon endured a night no player wants to experience. In Tuesday's 8-6 loss to the San Diego Padres, the 25-year-old committed three critical errors and was visibly emotional before being pulled from the game. Advertisement Despite the errors, Simon's reaction has emerged as a powerful display of maturity and resilience. Speaking to reporters Wednesday morning after a night to reflect, Simon offered insight into his mindset — one grounded in humility and uplifted by encouragement. As reported by Jason Foster and Christina De Nicola, Simon addressed the emotional moment with clarity and perspective. 'Just keep your head up,' Simon said. 'Doesn't matter what happened, just that's the past, turn the page, and tomorrow is another day.' For a Marlins rookie thrown into the spotlight, his response speaks volumes. Simon emphasized that he's trying to enjoy the game, help his team, and learn from each experience. Teammates quickly rallied around him, offering their full support. Marlins starter Max Meyer, who was on the mound during Simon's rough fourth inning, didn't hesitate to comfort his visibly frustrated teammate. Advertisement 'I said, 'I know you're not trying to do any of that behind me… I'm not going to hold anything behind him.'' Support also came from around the league. Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. acknowledged the difficulty of Simon's night and emphasized that baseball's humbling nature is something every player experiences — and never escapes. 'Everyone who's won a Gold Glove or Platinum Glove has had one of those nights,' Tatis said. 'I definitely know he's a great player.' Manager Clayton McCullough stood behind Simon's character, saying the moment was part of growing in a tough game. That kind of MLB player support — from opponents, teammates, and coaches — is invaluable for a player still adjusting to the big leagues. Simon didn't appear in Wednesday's series finale, but the Marlins still believe in their rookie. How he handles this moment could define his early development — and so far, his attitude shows he's built to respond.
New York Times
28-05-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Fernando Tatis Jr.'s recent slump is a ‘good combination' of the mechanical and mental
SAN DIEGO — For the first month of his sixth major-league season, Fernando Tatis Jr. appeared to finally unlock his full potential. The San Diego Padres right fielder hit .345, swatted eight home runs, stole seven bases and showcased a new dimension to his expansive skill set, striking out less often than ever. He played the kind of defense that won him a Platinum Glove in 2023, when his offense lagged coming off a PED suspension. He dispelled the concerns that come with a sizable injury history when he tweaked his surgically repaired shoulder, missed only one game and homered in the next. Advertisement And, for those five wondrous weeks, he backed up a bold statement made days before spring training. '(With) all the respect to all the big-league talent that is out there,' Tatis said in early February, 'when I'm 100 percent and my head is in the right spot, I feel like I'm second to no one on the baseball field.' It would have sounded borderline arrogant if Tatis hadn't demonstrated rare ability throughout his first five seasons, prompting former teammate Juan Soto to call him the sport's most complete player. And it might not have required the qualifier Tatis included if he hadn't experienced pronounced peaks and valleys. That trend, following one of the best months of his career, has continued with arguably the worst month of his career. Tatis entered Tuesday hitting .184 with a .620 on-base plus slugging percentage in May. Across his past 22 games, he hit four home runs, but he also stole only one base and struck out 25 times. It's a tribute to his talent that Tatis has never recorded an OPS lower than .674 in any previous calendar month. But one of baseball's most magnetic performers was struggling with the eye test in more ways than an extended slump. Tatis' body language over the past few weeks — from the listless at-bats to the head-down trudges back to the dugout — recalled certain growing pains of the early 2020s, when his energy could either lift an entire team or take the mood down a notch or two. Late Tuesday at Petco Park, after a 8-6 victory over the Miami Marlins, the vibes in the home clubhouse were high. For the second time in franchise history, the Padres had come back to win after trailing 6-0 after the top of the first. They received unexpected help from Marlins rookie second baseman Ronny Simon, who committed three errors in a span of three innings, and a resilient outing from starter Stephen Kolek, who recovered from the unfortunate opening frame to pitch into the sixth. They also got a lively performance from Tatis, who ended a career-long streak of games without multiple hits by providing a leadoff home run and a two-out single in the fifth, moments before Luis Arraez drove in the go-ahead run. Fernando Tatis Jr. se goza conectar un HR en casa🎉 — MLB Español (@mlbespanol) May 28, 2025 How much of his recent skid, Tatis was asked, had been mental versus mechanical? 'A good combination of both,' Tatis said as he stood at his locker. 'Obviously, you miss your pitches, and pitches (outside) the strike zone get called strikes, and then you're trying to defend yourself. It was just a lot of stuff coming together and what happens when you're going through a rough stretch. But you just try to stay positive, try to figure it out, what's going on with you mechanically and mentally at the same time because it's a really good combination of both.' Advertisement It was a tribute to Tatis' effort that he had not let his slide on offense affect his defense. He ranks among the league leaders in defensive runs saved and outs above average, on pace to contend for what would be his second Gold Glove award. Unlike Soto, who has scuffled after signing the largest contract in sports history, he has not had to answer questions about a lack of hustle. 'Fernando's a generational talent, and he's contributing in other ways to our team that I see, at least — defensively and other areas,' Padres manager Mike Shildt said before the game. 'And the at-bats haven't gone his way, and I expect him to be able to come out of it.' Tatis had begun the day with the lowest average launch angle of his career, as well as his highest groundball rate. He had resorted to constant tinkering in the batter's box, tweaking his stance and vacillating between a leg kick and the absence of a leg kick. Then, with the Padres in a deep hole early Tuesday night, he finally struck on a happier combination: When Marlins starter Max Meyer left a 1-1 sweeper over the plate, Tatis stayed back on the pitch and unleashed a powerful but compact swing, sending a fly ball over the fence in the right-field corner. At a projected 339 feet, the opposite-field drive registered as the second-shortest home run of his career. 'I loved Tati immediately answering back,' Shildt said. 'Great approach.' 'That was awesome,' Kolek said. 'I think it set the tone right away for our offense for the night.' 'I'm blessed by God,' Tatis said, chuckling. 'I just looked at the video. I was like, how did that (home run) happen? But blessed from the man above. And definitely hard work, good help from the hitting coaches. And whatever I have been going through so far, it's part of the game. And, man, we're gonna ride that wave.' The Padres, despite failing to score again in the first, went on to regain offensive momentum. They scored twice in the second, taking advantage of Simon's first error, and twice more in the third, after the infielder let a ball through the infield in what could have been ruled another error. They pulled to within a run in the fourth after Tyler Wade and Tatis reached on consecutive errors by Simon and Arraez, temporarily emerging from a slump of his own, singled for his second hit of the game. They pulled ahead an inning later when Arraez delivered his third hit. Advertisement After the bottom of the fourth, a teary-eyed Simon ran off the field and into the visiting clubhouse. He did not return. Tatis later expressed empathy for a friend he first met when they were playing winter ball against each other in their native Dominican Republic. 'It happens. It's baseball,' Tatis said. 'Everybody that has won a Gold Glove or Platinum Glove has had one of those nights. I definitely know he's a great player. He has won (Dominican winter league) MVP, and I have no doubt he's gonna be a great baseball player. 'It's definitely mental,' Tatis later added. 'It's a really hard game. He's definitely gonna figure it out.' For a night at least, the Padres appeared to figure it out. A lately sputtering offense tallied 13 hits, lifting San Diego to its third consecutive win. Center fielder Jackson Merrill, who had joined Tatis and Arraez in recently slumping, homered for eighth-inning insurance and unleashed a cathartic bat flip. 'I was happy (for Merrill),' Tatis said. 'We both have been grinding. And it's definitely relieving for him, for us, for everybody.' Merrill, like Kolek, credited Tatis for sparking the Padres' multi-inning rally. 'It helps a lot, especially when the person up there is doing what he usually does,' Merrill said. 'But we also get that there's slumps. You can't escape slumps. They're always gonna get you at some point.' For one of the game's most dynamic players, that point arrived this month. 'Just staying positive, man,' Tatis said. 'I'm trying to bring even more of myself, what I can do in the field. And … just trying to find a way. In baseball, you never have the right answer.' For the Padres, a daunting June schedule looms. May is not yet over. The search for answers, both mechanical and mental, will continue.
Forbes
27-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Brewers' Brice Turang Looks To Add Offense To His Outstanding Defense
Milwaukee Brewers' Brice Turang looks on during the second inning of a baseball game against the ... More Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 19, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash) Brice Turang has proven he can play elite defense at the major-league level. The Milwaukee Brewers second baseman won the National League Platinum Glove in 2024 – which is awarded to the league's top fielder – in his first full MLB season. Turang was also the NL Gold Glove second baseman. He had 22 defensive runs saved and committed just seven errors in 626 total chances. 'It was really cool,' Turang said of winning the Platinum Glove. 'It's hard to explain. I always just tell people like you strive to be the best defender that you can be for your team and then there are awards for it, which is really cool. 'You devote your whole life to this game, and you work really hard at these things, so to get somewhat of a reward is nice.' The next step for the 25-year-old Turang is becoming a bigger factor offensively. Turang was off to a good start with the bat this season until going 2 for 25 in his last six games. Still, he is hitting better than his first two seasons in the big leagues. In 52 games this year, Turang is batting .269/.339/.355 with four home runs and 13 stolen bases. Though he stole 50 bases in 155 games last year, his slash line was just .254/.316/.349. Even though Turang had a rough week at the plate, he made one of his two hits count. His RBI double in the eighth inning on Sunday broke a tie and lifted the Brewers to a 6-5 victory over the Pirates in Pittsburgh. 'I'm not even really scuffling,' Turang said. 'I'm hitting balls hard, just right to people. You feel like every ball you hit hard is right to someone and every ball you don't hit hard is right to someone. 'You just have to keep moving forward, because the more you try, you can go down a big rabbit hole. I feel good. I feel really comfortable at the plate." Turang came into the season confident that he would improve offensively. The Brewers' 2024 season ended in heartbreak as they lost to the New York Mets in three games in a NL Wild Card Series. Turang shined, though, going 5 for 11 with three doubles. PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 23: Adam Frazier #26 of the Pittsburgh Pirates is tagged out at ... More second base by Brice Turang #2 of the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning at PNC Park on May 23, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by) 'I'm just learning, understanding the game, understanding my swing, what adjustments you have to make and stuff like that,' said Turang, the Brewers' first-round draft pick with the 21st overall selection in 2018 from Santiago High School in Corona, Calif. 'I think it's just having time in the league and being able to make the adjustments and learning,' Turang would love to get back to the postseason. The Brewers are two-time defending NL Central champions and have made the playoffs six of the seven seasons. However, the Brewers have been unable to perform their small-market so far this year as they are 27-28 and tied for third place in the division, 6 ½ games behind the first-place Cubs. Brewers manager Pat Murphy has said he believes his team has lost it 'edge.' Yet Turang is confident that the Brewers are ready to get on a hot streak. 'We've got a good team,' Brice Turang said. 'It's just putting all the pieces together and that'll happen, it'll turn. It seems like every year, though, people count us out and say, 'Well, they can't keep going to the playoffs every year because they're a small-market team.' But we'll be fine. We're going to play a lot better.'
