Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has shown signs of improvement at the plate in recent weeks, raising questions about his ability to finish the season strongly.

Raleigh entered September hitting around .179 with 23 home runs and 68 RBI through roughly 116 games. His overall slash line stood at .179/.294/.371 with an OPS of .663, a sharp decline from his 2025 runner-up finish in AL MVP voting.

In a dozen September contests, Raleigh has slashed .255/.352/.468 with two home runs, nine RBI and 11 runs scored. One standout performance included a three-run homer that provided the Mariners' only offense in a loss.

The 29-year-old switch-hitter has also drawn more walks lately while cutting down on strikeouts in select games. His most recent action included a multi-hit effort and continued power display against American League West opponents.

Mariners fans have noted the contrast to his record-setting 2025 season, when Raleigh led the majors with 60 home runs and paced the AL with 125 RBI. That performance earned him a Silver Slugger, All-MLB honors and a close second-place MVP finish behind Aaron Judge.

Defense remains a strength. Raleigh has earned prior Gold Glove recognition and continues to handle a heavy workload behind the plate.

With the regular season nearing its end, Raleigh's recent uptick offers a measure of optimism for the franchise heading into the offseason. His power potential and leadership qualities remain assets even during a statistically difficult year.