Let's dive into the world of baseball and explore the intriguing story of Cal Raleigh and his early-season struggles with the Seattle Mariners. This article will take a deep dive into Raleigh's performance, offering an insightful and opinionated analysis of his first 13 games of the 2026 MLB season.
The Cold Start
The Seattle Mariners are off to a rocky start this season, and Cal Raleigh, fresh off a record-breaking 60-home run season, finds himself under the microscope. Hitting a mere .143 with one home run and an alarming 21 strikeouts, Raleigh is facing intense scrutiny.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the context. Raleigh's teammates, including Julio Rodriguez, Josh Naylor, and Randy Arozarena, are also struggling at the plate. It's an unusual scenario to see a team's top hitters all falter simultaneously. This raises a deeper question: is it a case of bad luck, or are there underlying issues at play?
Breaking Down Raleigh's Performance
I've analyzed Raleigh's 55 plate appearances, and one thing that immediately stands out is his struggle against fastballs. His swing-and-miss rate against four-seamers and two-seamers has skyrocketed, which is a significant concern. If you can't connect with the fastball, the foundation of most pitchers' arsenals, it's tough to succeed at the plate.
In my opinion, Raleigh's issues go beyond just missing pitches. His contact rate against pitches in the strike zone has declined significantly. Last year, he was making solid contact with these pitches, but this season, he's struggling to make consistent contact. This is a worrying trend and could indicate a mechanical issue or a mental block.
Hard-Hit Rates and Slumping
The hard-hit rates for Raleigh and his teammates are also cause for concern. The Mariners' overall hard-hit rate has dropped significantly from last season, and individually, Raleigh's rate has plummeted. This lack of hard contact suggests that the Mariners' hitters are not squaring up the ball as effectively as they did in 2025.
One detail that I find especially interesting is Raleigh's performance against left-handed pitching. Last year, he improved significantly against lefties, but this season, he's struggling to make solid contact with those middle-of-the-zone pitches that he crushed in 2025. This could be a key area for him to focus on to get back on track.
The Impact on the Mariners
The Mariners' slow start is a concern, especially for a franchise that has come so close to the playoffs in recent years. While it's still early in the season, and players like Rodriguez have a history of slow starts, the team's overall performance is a cause for alarm. The lack of hard contact and the struggles against fastballs are trends that need to be addressed if the Mariners want to turn their season around.
Conclusion
Cal Raleigh's early-season struggles are a fascinating case study in the ups and downs of baseball. While it's easy to point to bad luck or a small sample size, the underlying issues with his swing and contact rates are worth exploring. The Mariners' fate this season may well depend on Raleigh and his teammates finding their form and consistency at the plate.
