The 'Big Dumper' put together one of the greatest seasons we've ever seen in 2025 for the Seattle Mariners, hitting 60 homers and driving in 125 runs.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh was named the Sporting News 2025 MLB Player of the Year on Friday morning.
This came one day after manager Dan Wilson was named American League Manager of the Year.
Per the press release:
Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who joined MLB’s exclusive 60-homer club in helping Seattle to its first AL West title since 2001, has been chosen by more than 300of his fellow players as Sporting News 2025 MLB Player of the Year.Raleigh, who led the American League in home runs (60) and RBIs (125) during the regular season, won out over runner-up Yankees outfielder/DH Aaron Judge for the honor, given annually since 1936.
What does it mean?
Since Raleigh beat out Judge for this award, there's at least a chance that he beats Judge out for the American League MVP Award as well.
However, that is chosen by the writers, and not by players, so there's a different group of people deciding on the award.
Judge has won the MVP Award twice (2022, 2024) while no Mariners player has won the AL MVP since Ichiro Suzuki in 2001.
Raleigh's season
Simply put, Raleigh put together the best season we've ever seen by a catcher. His 60 home runs shattered the previous catcher record of 48. He also had the most home runs ever by a switch-hitter and had the most home runs ever by a Mariners player.
While those records won't be everything in whether or not he can beat Judge, it should factor in a bit.
Judge's year
The most consistently feared slugger in the American League for the last several years, he hit .331 this season to win the American League batting title. He had 53 homers in 152 games, also posting a .457 on-base percentage. He had 114 RBIs, while Raleigh had 125, which led the American League.
As for the Mariners....
The season ended in heartbreak, but it was the best year for the M's in generations, as they won the AL West and earned the No. 2 seed in the American League playoffs.
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