The Seattle Mariners announced on May 15 that catcher Cal Raleigh has been placed on the injured list due to a right oblique strain, raising uncertainty about his recovery timeline and the team’s immediate plans behind the plate.
Raleigh’s absence is significant for the Mariners, as he has been a key contributor both offensively and defensively. The team now faces decisions regarding who will fill his role and how they can maintain performance in his absence.
Manager Dan Wilson said, “It’s hard to say without knowing how bad it is. But it is one of those things that can be kind of tricky, and we just have to be as careful as possible so that he can get it back to 100 percent.” Raleigh will undergo further imaging and evaluations when he meets with team doctors not present in Houston this week.
With Raleigh sidelined, Mitch Garver steps into a larger role managing the pitching staff. Wilson said, “His mentoring ability and what he has meant to Cal behind the plate, and what he brings to the pitching staff behind the plate, is tremendous.” Garver contributed both offensively with his first home run of the season and by helping pitcher Luis Castillo rebound during Thursday’s win. Castillo said through an interpreter, “It was part of the plan going into today with Garver to just use everything I had, all my pitches, and throw them all with confidence.”
Jhonny Pereda is also expected to see increased playing time. While Garver brings experience at age 35, Pereda offers strong defensive skills demonstrated during his Mariners debut earlier this month.
Offensively, several players are stepping up amid Raleigh’s absence. Julio Rodríguez has maintained strong numbers since early April; Josh Naylor has improved significantly since mid-April; Luke Raley leads in home runs; Brendan Donovan boasts a high on-base percentage; Randy Arozarena continues solid production; Cole Young remains among team leaders in RBIs despite recent struggles.
Garver addressed moving forward without Raleigh: “The show must go on,” he said. “I mean, we have to be able to win games, and we’ve got to be able to pick up where we left off.” The Mariners hope their lineup lives up to its potential as they navigate this period without one of their top players.
