Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is closing in on home run history. Raleigh hit two out, including a grand slam, in the Mariners’ dominating 12-3 win over the American League’s top team, Detroit Tigers, on Friday night. With this performance, Raleigh achieved his eighth multi-homer game of the season, equaling Ken Griffey Jr.’s franchise record.

Currently, Raleigh boasts 38 home runs, needing just one more in the next two matches to equal Barry Bonds’ all-time record of 39 set before the 2001 All-Star break.

The Tigers started the top pitcher in baseball, Tarik Skubal, who allowed four runs in five innings, but it was after he exited that Raleigh made his impact, hitting his first homer off Tyler Holton in the eighth inning.

That 383-foot shot was his 37th this season, followed closely by a 405-foot grand slam off Brant Hurter.

This record chase has ignited comparisons to Salvador Perez’s single-season record for home runs by a primary catcher, which stands at 48 from 2021. Furthermore, Raleigh has a glimpse at Aaron Judge’s 2022 AL record of 62 home runs. But the immediate focus remains on breaking Bonds’ first-half mark of 39.

With this evening’s two-home-run game, Raleigh’s batting line now tallies .264/.377/.645, remarkable for any player but especially for a defensive catcher competing in a park known for its damp marine layer impacts on power hitting. Hence, he is a strong contender for AL MVP honors this year.