Cal Raleigh Struggles in 2026 as MLB Fans Rip Mariners Star After Aaron Judge MVP Challenge

Cal Raleigh’s 2026 slump has become one of the biggest talking points surrounding the Seattle Mariners. After producing a historic 2025 season and challenging New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge for the American League MVP award, Raleigh has struggled to replicate that level of offensive production this year.

The Mariners catcher smashed 60 home runs during the 2025 campaign, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous power hitters in baseball. However, his numbers have fallen sharply in 2026, leaving fans questioning whether last season was an exceptional outlier or whether Raleigh can rediscover his previous form.

Cal Raleigh’s numbers take a major hit in 2026

Raleigh has managed just 51 hits and 12 home runs during the 2026 season. The dramatic decline has been particularly noticeable when compared with his extraordinary home-run production from last year.

Following Thursday’s game against the Yankees, Raleigh went hitless for the fifth time in his last seven games. His batting average has dropped to .159, adding further pressure on the Mariners catcher as Seattle continues its push for an American League Wild Card position.

Raleigh’s struggles have become even more surprising because of the level he reached in 2025. His 60-home-run campaign put him firmly into the MVP conversation alongside Aaron Judge and established him as one of the league’s premier power threats.

MLB fans brutally react to Raleigh’s slump

Raleigh’s struggles have generated plenty of criticism from MLB fans on social media. Several supporters and critics have highlighted the enormous difference between his 2025 production and his current numbers.

“Cal went from a cheat code to a ground ball merchant.”

Another fan joked that Raleigh’s dramatic decline deserved an investigation into his 2025 season, while another suggested that expectations became too high after he enjoyed one extraordinary campaign.

Some fans also acknowledged that a slump was expected but argued that Raleigh’s current performance has gone far beyond what they anticipated.

The online reaction shows just how quickly expectations can change for a player following a breakout season. Raleigh’s 2025 campaign raised the bar considerably, meaning his current struggles are being judged against one of the best offensive seasons ever produced by a catcher.

Raleigh’s 2025 season set an incredibly high standard

The biggest challenge for Raleigh is that his previous season created extraordinary expectations. Hitting 60 home runs is an elite achievement for any MLB player, and doing so as a catcher made the accomplishment even more notable.

His power production also placed him in direct comparison with Aaron Judge, one of baseball’s most established sluggers. The MVP discussion surrounding the two players demonstrated how highly Raleigh was regarded after his breakthrough campaign.

However, repeating that production year after year is extremely difficult. Pitchers make adjustments, opposing teams identify weaknesses and maintaining elite offensive numbers over a full season requires consistency, health and discipline at the plate.

Mariners snap six-game losing streak against Yankees

While Raleigh continued to struggle offensively, the Mariners managed to end their six-game losing streak by defeating the Yankees 1-0 in the series finale.

Seattle’s pitching staff delivered an impressive performance, with ace Logan Gilbert throwing six scoreless innings before the bullpen completed the shutout.

The Mariners’ only run came from third baseman Weston Wilson, who hit a solo home run in the top of the second inning. The narrow victory provided Seattle with an important result as the team continues its pursuit of a playoff position.

Mariners remain in Wild Card race

Despite their recent struggles, Seattle remains in contention for the American League Wild Card. The Mariners entered the latest stretch of games 3.5 games behind in the race for the final AL Wild Card spot.

That makes Raleigh’s potential turnaround particularly important. Seattle needs offensive production from its key players as the season progresses, and a return to anything close to his 2025 form could provide the lineup with a significant boost.

Raleigh’s performance could therefore have an impact beyond his individual statistics. If he continues to struggle, the Mariners could face additional pressure during the playoff race. If he rediscovers his power stroke, Seattle could become a much more dangerous postseason contender.

Can Cal Raleigh recover from his 2026 slump?

The biggest question surrounding Raleigh is whether his current struggles represent a temporary slump or a fundamental change in his offensive performance.

His 2025 season proved that he possesses the ability to produce at an elite level. The challenge now is to regain confidence, make adjustments against opposing pitchers and rediscover the consistency that helped him hit 60 home runs.

For the Mariners, there is still time for Raleigh to turn his season around. But with Seattle fighting for a Wild Card spot, the catcher will need to find his offensive rhythm quickly if the team wants to remain firmly in the playoff picture.