Mariners' Cal Raleigh Making Progress in Rehab
The Seattle Mariners have good news regarding their franchise catcher.
According to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, Cal Raleigh has progressed towards hitting drills as he continues to rehab from a right oblique strain. The switch-hitting backstop took 30 swings off a tee (15 from each side) and will rejoin the team on Saturday to evaluate his progress. There is currently no timeline on Raleigh, but perhaps the Mariners can get an idea of one if they see substantial improvement tomorrow.
Cal Raleigh (oblique) took 30 swings in the cages down in Arizona today, and he'll return to Seattle tomorrow to check in with the team. "I think he misses us," GM Justin Hollander said.
— Adam Jude (@A_Jude) May 29, 2026
No timeline still, but sounds like Raleigh's roughly a couple weeks out.
The oblique strain resulted in Raleigh's first career stint on the injured list, which further hampered an already difficult season for the 29-year-old. Through 41 games - his last on May 13 - Raleigh is hitting just .161/.243/.317 with seven home runs, 18 RBI, 57 strikeouts against 18 walks, and a 64 wRC+. It's a jarring decline in production for the 2025 AL MVP runner-up, who became just the fourth player in American League history to hit 60 home runs in a season last year.
Even with his struggles at the plate, Raleigh has remained an asset behind it with two Defensive Runs Saved and a Fielding Run Value of 3 (per Statcast). The Mariners are unquestionably a better team with the affectionately-named "Big Dumper" on the field and in their lineup; if they see that Raleigh's oblique is healing as expected, they can ramp up his hitting drills with higher intensity.
Mariners general manager Justin Hollander added that Raleigh is getting defensive work in as well, catching and throwing out to 130 feet. He believes that the Mariners will know more about a return timeline in a week from now, although Saturday's evaluation could also be an indicator.
"I think he misses us," Hollander joked. "We just want to build him responsibly and make sure that when he cuts it loose 100%, he feels 100%."
Mariners GM Justin Hollander gives an injury update on Cal Raleigh.
— KING 5 Sports (@KING5Sports) May 29, 2026
Hollander says Cal took 30 swings today, 15 on each side.
There is no timeline right now on a return to play date. pic.twitter.com/q6UAKp0Gt0
The Mariners are coming off a key sweep over the Athletics in Sacramento that allowed them to move into first place in the AL West, although they are still below .500 with a 28-29 record. Perhaps they can create greater separation in the division once Raleigh returns to the field.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 3:58 PM.