By Associated Press
SEATTLE 鈥 On the spot, Cal Raleigh compiled a laundry list of players he would consider for a Mount Rushmore of Seattle Mariners following their 6-0 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday.
Ichiro was one of the first names off the board, followed by the likes of stud starting pitchers Felix Hernandez and Randy Johnson. When identifying who is the face of the Mariners, though, Raleigh immediately landed on Ken Griffey Jr., who he tied for the franchise record for home runs before the All-Star break with 35 with a pair of blasts.
鈥淭o be mentioned with that name, somebody that鈥檚 just iconic, a legend, first ballot Hall of Famer, I鈥檓 just blessed,鈥 Raleigh said. 鈥淭rying to do the right thing and trying to keep it rolling. If I can try to be like that guy, it鈥檚 a good guy to look up to.鈥
From Raleigh鈥檚 perspective, Griffey would have 鈥渟mashed鈥 the major league home run record rather than come up 132 short of Barry Bonds if not for injuries. Thankfully for Raleigh鈥檚 sake, that admiration hasn鈥檛 been reserved for the public eye.
Whenever Griffey finds himself back in Seattle, which was the case when FIFA Club World Cup games were taking place at Lumen Field, Raleigh has enjoyed his chats with 鈥淭he Kid.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 always fun to have him around the clubhouse to just talk to him a little bit and figure out how he went about his business,鈥 Raleigh said. 鈥淪o, I鈥檝e talked to him on the phone once or twice as well. So, he鈥檚 a good one. He鈥檚 one of the best of all-time. It鈥檚 hard to beat talking to somebody like that.鈥
It鈥檚 also hard to find many comparable runs to what Raleigh 鈥 who will participate in the Home Run Derby 鈥 is in the midst of, and what Griffey accomplished ahead of the 1998 All-Star break.
Manager Dan Wilson, who was a teammate of Griffey鈥檚 in 1998, is among the few folks who can truly put Raleigh鈥檚 fast start to 2025 in perspective.
鈥淚t鈥檚 remarkable. It feels like he hits a home run every game, that鈥檚 what it feels like,鈥 Wilson said. 鈥淎nd I can remember feeling it as a player, that (Griffey) just felt like he hit a home run every day. Again, that鈥檚 the consistency that (Raleigh) has shown. It hasn鈥檛 been a streak where he has hit a bunch of home runs in a short amount of time. It鈥檚 been kind of 10 per month.鈥
To Wilson鈥檚 point, Raleigh has been remarkably consistent.
He walloped nine home runs in April, 12 in May and 11 more in June.
Griffey鈥檚 figures were a tad more mercurial, but just barely (10 in April, eight in May, 14 in June).
All told, the 28-year-old Raleigh has more than lived up to the early stages of his six-year, $105 million contract extension, which he signed just ahead of the 2025 season.
Not only has Raleigh set a career high for home runs, but he鈥檚 on track to post new marks for batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Raleigh chalked those developments up to his maturing a little over halfway into his fourth full major league season.
鈥淚 have the ability to drive the ball out of the ballpark,鈥 Raleigh said. 鈥淚 mean, it鈥檚 part of my game and I鈥檓 a strong guy. It鈥檚 learning how to hone it in and take your hits when maybe you鈥檙e not getting those pitches in the heart of the plate.鈥
Such an approach is all well and good, but the results have been starkly different.
Raleigh has racked up just 36 singles, or one more than his home run total.
Suffice to say, Raleigh鈥檚 offensive output has justified every dollar the Mariners have sent his way so far, and then some.
鈥淲ant to make sure I鈥檓 doing everything I can every single day to earn that paycheck and earn what they gave me,鈥 Raleigh said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 a lot more than just that. It鈥檚 being a leader, doing things in the clubhouse and making sure you鈥檙e ready to go every single day.鈥