Cal Raleigh Returns to Mariners Lineup After Right-Side Soreness

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh rejoined the lineup on Tuesday as the designated hitter after missing three games with a sore right side. In his first game back, he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, and Seattle fell to the Atlanta Braves 3–2.

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Raleigh first reported discomfort following Friday’s game against the Kansas City Royals. He was a late scratch on Saturday and underwent an MRI that day, which revealed no structural damage. The 2023 American League MVP runner-up, who has never been placed on the injured list in six seasons, entered the season hitting .186 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs through 33 games.

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• Friday: Right-side soreness appears vs. Royals.

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• Saturday: Scratch from lineup; MRI performed.

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• Monday: Mariners defeat Braves 5–4; decision on Raleigh pending.

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• Tuesday: Raleigh returns vs. Braves, records three strikeouts in four at-bats.

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Raleigh’s batting average dropped to .180 after Tuesday’s game. He has logged five home runs in his last 16 appearances, and his overall line through 33 games reads .186/.—/.— with seven homers and 18 RBIs. The Mariners’ loss to Atlanta was decided by a 3–2 score.

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Raleigh’s role as a middle-of-the-order hitter and designated hitter makes his health a central factor in Seattle’s run production. His early-season slump followed by a recent power surge underscores the team’s reliance on his power, and his cautious return aims to preserve that contribution while avoiding further injury.

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Manager Dan Wilson emphasized a cautious approach, noting that the team will monitor Raleigh “at-bat to at-bat” and that “we’re going to be cautious as we get him back into it.” Raleigh said he was “playing it safe” on the recommendation of the training staff and that there was no single moment he felt the injury occur.

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• Cal Raleigh – Mariners catcher and designated hitter.

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• Dan Wilson – Seattle manager overseeing the return.

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• Mitch Garver – Started at catcher in Raleigh’s absence.

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• Mariners training staff – Provided medical guidance and cleared Raleigh for play.

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• “As we talked about with side injuries, you have to be really, really careful,” — Dan Wilson, manager

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• “Obviously, we're going to be cautious as we get him back into it,” — Dan Wilson, manager

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• “We're looking at it pretty much at-bat to at-bat at this point,” — Dan Wilson, manager

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• “playing it safe” — Cal Raleigh, catcher

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The sources present a single medical assessment (MRI with no structural damage) and no contradictory injury reports. Detailed findings of the MRI and any long-term prognosis remain undisclosed.

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Seattle indicated it will continue to evaluate Raleigh’s condition on a per-at-bat basis, adjusting his role as needed while the team proceeds with its regular schedule.

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