Cal Raleigh authored one of the most impressive offensive seasons a switch-hitter or catcher has ever put together last season, slugging 60 home runs and driving in 125 runs as the Mariners came within a whisper of capturing the American League pennant. The prolonged display of power and flair for the dramatic earned him Sports Illustrated 's Breakout Star of the Year award , an honor across all sports.

Things are not going as splendidly for Raleigh and Seattle in '26 as the switch-hitting slugger is mired in a nasty slump that's beginning to border on the unbelievable.

A 3-1 victory over the Astros on Monday night moved Seattle to within two games of .500 and the first-place Athletics. That's the good news. The bad is that Raleigh is now hitless in his last 36 official at-bats. Again, just to put a fine point on it, the person who finished second in American League MVP voting to Aaron Judge a few short months ago is mired in an 0-for-36 slump.

Batting average has never been Raleigh's calling card.…