The Seattle Mariners welcomed an unexpected visitor during their game on May 31, as catcher Cal Raleigh returned to the dugout while rehabbing from a right oblique injury. Raleigh, who had been in Arizona for two weeks recovering from his first career stint on the injured list, arrived at T-Mobile Park later than planned due to a delayed morning workout.
Pitcher Bryan Woo said, “I knew he was going to show up. But I thought he was going to get here before the game. Not like, in the fifth inning. But it was good. Everyone is super happy to see him. He had a smile on his face, and got to see a win.”
Raleigh began throwing earlier in the week and took moderate-intensity swings from both sides of the plate for the first time on Friday. He described ongoing communication with team trainers regarding his rehab schedule and expressed hope that he would remain with the team rather than return to Arizona for further rehabilitation. “I think for the most part, I’ll probably be up here for good,” Raleigh said.
Reflecting on his recovery process, Raleigh said that adjusting mentally was challenging but ultimately positive: “I made a joke with somebody the other day that the first couple days didn’t feel real, it didn’t feel right. Once I got to Arizona, it was like the acceptance stage, I guess… It’s really hard watching the games on TV and not being there. It’s a ‘Twilight Zone’ kind of feeling.”
While Raleigh has been out since May 14, catchers Mitch Garver and Jhonny Pereda have combined for solid offensive production and contributed defensively as well. Manager Dan Wilson commented on Raleigh’s return, “Great to see him, great to have him back here,” Wilson said. “Still a little ways to go, of course, but having him back in the fold, back in the family feels really good.”
