Mariners place Cal Raleigh on injured list amid ongoing offensive struggles
Seattle makes roster move as 29-year-old’s batting average sits second-lowest among qualified MLB hitters; Jhonny Pereda recalled from Triple-A.
The Seattle Mariners have placed catcher Cal Raleigh on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain, marking the first time in his sixth major league season that the 29-year-old has been sidelined. The decision was confirmed on Thursday morning, following an incident during Wednesday’s game against the Houston Astros where Raleigh appeared to aggravate the injury in the eighth inning.
Raleigh’s absence comes during a challenging period for the American League MVP runner-up, who had recently broken a hitless streak with two singles in a 10-2 victory over the Astros on Tuesday night. Prior to this latest strain, he had missed three games from May 2 to May 4 due to soreness on his right side. Manager Dan Wilson described the move as a necessary precaution, stating that while no one wants to see Raleigh on the injured list, it was the smart decision at this stage.
Statistically, Raleigh is enduring a difficult start to the current campaign. In 41 games, he is hitting .161 with seven home runs, 18 RBIs, four doubles, 18 walks, and 16 runs. His current batting average ranks as the second-lowest in Major League Baseball among qualified hitters, trailing only Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins, who holds a .150 average.
The roster vacancy has been filled by the recall of catcher Jhonny Pereda from Triple-A Tacoma. Pereda, 30, has appeared in two games for Seattle this season, hitting .400 with one run scored. The Mariners also announced a concurrent transaction, sending left-handed pitcher José Suarez to the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations. Suarez has appeared in nine games this season for both Seattle and the Atlanta Braves, holding a 0-1 record and a 6.38 earned run average.
Raleigh enters this stint with significant recent accolades, having led the AL with 60 home runs and 125 RBIs last season to set a Seattle franchise record. He finished second in MVP voting behind New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge. The exact timeline for Raleigh’s return to the active roster has not been specified beyond the standard 10-day designation.
