By Don Yaeger,Richard Rodriguez,Senior Contributor

Copyright forbes

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – AUGUST 24: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners receives high fives in the dugout after hitting his 49th home run of the season setting the record for most home runs during a single season by a catcher during the second inning against the Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 24, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images)
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On a hot, sticky Saturday night in Houston, Texas this weekend, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh stepped to the plate in the top of the third inning against the rival Astros. Quickly, the opposing pitcher got two strikes on the switch-hitting All-Star, who was batting from the right side. On the next offer, the catcher known as “Big Dumper” because of his sizable bottom, smacked the ball the opposite way to right field for home run No. 57. With that, he also passed Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. for the most dingers in one season in team history.

But Raleigh is not done.

He may not admit it, but number 62 has to be in the sights of the reigning Home Run Derby champ. That’s the AL home run record, held by New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. Whether or not Dumper catches or breaks that mark won’t change the fact that he’s having the best season for a catcher in MLB history and that he’s the presumptive AL MVP with just a handful of games remaining in the season.

It’s a year no one could have predicted—not even young Cal.

The Mariners are leading their division and may end the year with a top-two seed in the AL, which would secure a first-round bye in the playoffs. Baseball fans in the Emerald City reading that sentence still can’t believe it. For huge chunks of the Mariners’ near-50-year-history, the team has been an afterthought on the baseball landscape. Sure, there were some great years with Griffey and Ichiro Suzuki in the 90s and 2000s, but the fact remains: Seattle is the only MLB team never to make the World Series.

That may be changing soon, thanks to Cal and company.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – MAY 02: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners is greeted at the dugout after a grand slam home run against the Texas Rangers in the fifth inning at Globe Life Field on May 02, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
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Last season, Raleigh hit .220 and belted 34 home runs. Those are excellent numbers for a catcher, who is also responsible for managing the pitching staff—and the Mariners have had one of the best staffs in baseball the past several years. Raleigh earned the AL Platinum Glove Award for his defensive play in the field in 2024, too. By all measures, he was one of the best backstops in baseball last season. But Raleigh didn’t rest on his large posterior. No, he worked hard over the summer.

On March 25, 2025, just weeks before the 2025 season began, Raleigh signed a six-year $105 million contract. The deal marked his talent and projected his ascendance. But no one could have envisioned what Raleigh’s 2025 would look like. Today, he’s the likely MVP on a team that could make a serious run in the playoffs.

So, how did he do it? How did Raleigh go from a possible future All-Star in 2024 to a legend just months later? In short, he got into the head of his opponents. Now, the Florida State product is the new face of baseball.

In an interview earlier this year with ESPN’s Mina Kimes, Big Dumper said he found ways to improve his game by looking at himself the way another catcher might. He wondered: “How would I get myself out. Or how would I pitch to myself in this situation with this guy on the mound.” In other words, he didn’t just work at what he was good at—he worked at what he was bad at, too.

It’s a lesson many in business could take to heart. To raise your ceiling, get into the minds of your competitors. That’s how Raleigh became great and that’s how many leaders in their own fields can, too. Think: How would your competitors build a case against you? How would they poke holes in your brand or products? And then go out and shore up those weak points. Don’t be afraid to look at your warts.

Forbes contributor Nicole Lipkin offered similar advice. Writing for Forbes, Lipkin said, “Focusing solely on your strengths can potentially create an imbalance in your work performance.” She added, “The willingness to accept your weaknesses in the interest of self-improvement is actually a vital strength. It will play a central role in your personal and professional success.” Of course, she’s correct. If your competitors can see it, you should too.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – AUGUST 25: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners lifts the “Vedder Cup” after beating the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on August 25, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
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Raleigh, the former No.90 pick in the 2018 draft, knows that his future success is not dependent on what he does well from here on out. Seasons ago it was clear he was a stalwart defender and strong power hitter. No, to be his best, it’s only about additional improvement—not lazy satisfaction. “The job’s not finished yet,” Raleigh said in a recent interview with Seattle media amidst sweeping the three-game series in Houston. “It’s about going out there and finishing the job and leaving nothing for chance.”

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