The Seattle Mariners catcher, who leads all major league players with 32 home runs, will be taking part in the Home Run Derby on July 14 as part of the MLB All-Star Game festivities at Truist Park outside Atlanta.
Raleigh announced the development on June 27 on social media, writing in a post on Instagram “See you in Atlanta!”
It’s the first derby appearance for the 28-year-old Raleigh, who is two homers away from matching his career high for a season. Known affectionately as “Big Dumper,” Raleigh became the first switch-hitter and first catcher in MLB history to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star Break. If Raleigh were to win, he would also become the first catcher and the first switch hitter to win the Home Run Derby outright (as noted by MLB.com, switch-hitter Ruben Sierra tied with Eric Davis in 1989).
He becomes the second player in the event, joining Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., who committed to participate on June 25.
Once in Georgia, he’ll look to become the first catcher to ever win the derby, which began in 1985.
The moment will carry some extra personal significance for Raleigh.
His father, Todd, will be throwing to him and Raleigh, according to MLB.com, is hoping that his 15-year-old brother Todd Jr. will be catching behind him. Raleigh, a North Carolina native who went on to star at Florida State, grew up only about 150 miles from Truist Park and regularly played in the Atlanta area as a child and teenager.
This season, Raleigh is batting .275 with 69 RBIs, 15 doubles and 47 walks. He will be the eighth Mariners player to take part in the derby, though Ken Griffey Jr. was the only one of that group to win it.
‘I’m excited to represent the Mariners and our fanbase,’ Raleigh said in a statement. ‘It will be extra special for me getting to do it in Atlanta, where I spent a lot of time playing baseball as a kid.’