Mariners place Cal Raleigh on injured list for first time in his career

Cal Raleigh was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain, the first IL stint of the Mariners catcher’s six-year career.

The move adds another setback to a difficult start for Raleigh, who followed a record-setting 2025 season with a steep drop at the plate through the first part of 2026. Raleigh left Seattle’s 4-3 loss to the Houston Astros after appearing to aggravate an injury on his right side.

Raleigh had already missed three games from May 2 to May 4 because of soreness in the same area. The Mariners recalled catcher Jhonny Pereda from Triple-A Tacoma to take Raleigh’s spot on the active roster.

The injury comes just days after Raleigh ended the longest hitless streak in the majors this season. He had been mired in an 0-for-38 slump before collecting two singles in Seattle’s 10-2 win over Houston on Tuesday.

Through 41 games this season, Raleigh is batting .161 with seven home runs, 18 RBIs, four doubles, 18 walks and 16 runs. His batting average ranks as the second-lowest in the majors among qualified hitters, ahead of only Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins at .150, according to the report.

The contrast with Raleigh’s 2025 season is stark. Last year, he hit .247 with 60 home runs and 125 RBIs in 159 games. The power total broke Salvador Perez’s record for most home runs by a catcher in a single season, Mickey Mantle’s mark for most homers by a switch-hitter and Ken Griffey Jr.’s Mariners franchise record of 56 home runs.

The Mariners now move forward without their primary catcher while waiting to see how quickly the oblique strain responds. The club’s next update will determine whether Raleigh’s absence is limited to the minimum 10 days or becomes a longer interruption to an already difficult season.