Cal Raleigh Takes Positive Step in Rehab with AquaSox

Cal Raleigh, the starting catcher for the Seattle Mariners, is on the mend and working towards a return to the big leagues. Raleigh made his first appearance in a rehab assignment with the High-A Everett AquaSox on Sunday at Everett Memorial Stadium in Everett, Washington. This marks his initial game with the AquaSox since he began his minor league career in 2018.

Raleigh has been sidelined since May 14 due to a right oblique strain. Initially, he tried to play through the discomfort after missing three games, but ultimately, the persistent injury led to his first stint on the injured list. Prior to his injury, Raleigh had a batting average of .161 with four doubles, seven home runs, and 18 RBIs across 41 games.

During his outing for the AquaSox, Raleigh served as the designated hitter and batted third in the lineup. He completed the day with a modest performance, going 1-for-3 with a single, a flyout, and a strikeout. His flyout nearly turned into a two-run homer, narrowly missing the fence.

“It felt good. Good day,” Raleigh remarked after the game, expressing satisfaction with his performance and the absence of any pain. He noted that he had expected his timing to be worse but was pleasantly surprised by how well he handled the at-bats. “I didn’t feel it today,” he added, indicating that he was optimistic about his recovery.

Looking ahead, Raleigh will take a day off before advancing to the next phase of his rehab, which includes joining the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers for a week of games. He will return to catching duties on Tuesday, allowing the Mariners to evaluate his ability to throw from behind the plate. His rehab stint with the Rainiers will conclude on June 14, coinciding with the end of a 10-game road trip, at which point he will be reassessed for a potential activation from the injured list.