Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners became the third catcher since 2011 to win the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award. He is the first Mariner to do so. The announcement came on Friday night and follows Raleigh’s American League Gold Glove Award at catcher.
Cal Raleigh is going PLATINUM
Big Dumper just took home the @RawlingsSports Platinum Glove Award – honoring the best defensive player in each league. #TridentsUp
? https://t.co/klcaryHW2b pic.twitter.com/3zispZlgcE
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) November 9, 2024
Cal Raleigh Becomes First Mariner to Win Platinum Glove
An ever-present figure in a changing Mariners lineup, Cal Raleigh is the first player in franchise history to win the Rawlings Platinum Glove. The prestigious fielding award is given to one player from each league every season. Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang won the National League award. Since its inception in 2011, no Mariner has come close to winning the award. There have only been three catchers to do so. St. Louis Cardinals legend and one-day Hall of Famer Yadier Molina won the award four times. New York Yankees backstop Jose Trevino is the most recent catcher to have won it, doing so in 2022.
Raleigh was a green 24-year-old when Seattle called him up in 2021. His very shaky at-bats and his inability to hit a breaking ball had fans worried about him being a potential bust. In 2022, Raleigh was forced into big-league action due to injury, and his fielding ability was on full display from the very beginning. He led the league in runners caught stealing with 25 in 115 games behind the plate. In his first three big league seasons, Raleigh has yet to throw out less than 25 runners, leading the league twice.
John Stanton’s Problem
Flash forward to 2024, and Raleigh is a fan favorite. His role in ending the postseason drought in 2022 forever endeared him to Seattle fans. Raleigh, someone who has made his love for the city known, continues to prove his value in a Mariners uniform. In addition to his Platinum Glove, he set a Major League record for home runs by a catcher in their first four seasons, and, he did so by beating out Hall of Famer Mike Piazza. Raleigh is arbitration-eligible in 2025 and will be a free agent in 2028. Notoriously stingy Mariners owner John Stanton has a lot to think about, with Raleigh most certainly deserving a hefty contract.
Photo Credit: © Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images
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