Seattle Mariners fans excited as scouts predict catcher Cal Raleigh will have breakout season in 2023: "The secret is out" "Big Dumper for life"
Seattle Mariners fans are looking forward to a big season in 2023. They were given another reason to be optimistic on Friday as third-year catcher Cal Raleigh was named among 25 players that baseball scouts believe will have a breakout campaign this year. Baseball America polls scouts every spring for their opinions on who will make it big in the upcoming season.
Raleigh, nicknamed "Big Dumper" not only because of his, well, pronounced posterior, as well as his ability to hit clutch home runs, took over as the Mariners' primary catcher in 2022. He hit just .211, but launched 27 home runs in 415 plate appearances over 119 games.
The player who came up most frequently that scouts think is going to have a huge year in 2023?
Mariners C Cal Raleigh.
baseballamerica.com/stories/25-pla…
Raleigh, who is also known as a standout defensive catcher, heads into 2023 as the Seattle Mariners' starting catcher, with veteran Tom Murphy backing him up.
Drafted by the Mariners in the third round in 2018, it didn't take long for Raleigh to endear himself to Seattle fans. That love only blossomed as Raleigh hit a two-run walk-off home run that clinched the Mariners' first postseason berth in over two decades late last season.
@KyleAGlaser As he should. Premier bat, solid defense, nimble, comes up clutch in big moments and has a juicy booty. No reason not to root for the kid.
The secret is out #BigDumper twitter.com/kyleaglaser/st…
You already know twitter.com/kyleaglaser/st…
Fans love a player with a top nickname, and Raleigh certainly has that going for him. But Raleigh isn't letting his local fame, expected or not, go to his head. He told MLB.com:
"I don’t think anything for me has changed. I’m still the same guy, do the same things, enjoy the same stuff. But I definitely get noticed a little more, and I hear a lot more of my name being yelled around and people saying stuff. It’s cool. I mean, it’s really cool to see. I never thought that would happen."
Raleigh's humble nature only makes Mariners fans love "Big Dumper" all the more.
Big Dumper for life!!! twitter.com/KyleAGlaser/st…
Scouting Notes
Tired: hi butt
Wired: big dumper twitter.com/KyleAGlaser/st…
Conveniently, he’s also the player who came up most frequently that scouts think is going to have a huge ~rear~ in 2023. twitter.com/KyleAGlaser/st…
The Seattle Mariners faithful already have their own prognostications on how Raleigh will perform in 2023:
Your starting American League All Star Catcher for 2023 The Big Dumper twitter.com/KyleAGlaser/st…
@KyleAGlaser .250, 33HRs, 85 RBI - All Star & Gold Glove finalist https://t.co/fo8v82Z8YZ
With an infinite number of talking heads spewing their opinions on who will do well or not in an upcoming season, fans enjoy hearing from the scouts themselves and seem to put a lot more stock in their educated opinions.
Love this annual column from BA twitter.com/KyleAGlaser/st…
@KyleAGlaser @CarlosACollazo Always love hearing from scouts, this was a fun read
Raleigh second Seattle Mariners player in a row to be picked to click by MLB scouts
The Seattle Mariners are beginning to stockpile players whom scouts love. In last season's Baseball America polling of scouts, they picked outfielder Julio Rodriguez among their picks. We all know how that turned out: 28 homers, 75 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, a .284 average and a Rookie of the Year award.