No Slump For Big Dump
Cal Raleigh (SEA): 3-4, 2 HR, 4 R, 3 RBI, BB, SB.
This might sound insane to some, but I think it’s time we start the Cal Raleigh AL MVP campaign. With his two HRs on Friday afternoon, Raleigh set the record for most HRs by a catcher before the All-Star break, besting the legendary Johnny Bench. He now not only leads all of baseball with 29 HRs, he also inexplicably leads all catchers with nine stolen bases. Turns out Big Dumper can move! A truly incredible first half for the Mariners catcher.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Friday:
Mitch Garver (SEA): 2-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI, BB.
Raleigh wasn’t the only Mariners catcher who had a big game against the Cubs on Friday. Mitch Garver hit his second and third HRs of the season, including a three-run blast to seal the game in the ninth inning. Garver is long removed from his 31 HR campaign in 2019, but Seattle is hoping he can recapture a little bit of that magic to bolster their lineup.
Adolis García (TEX): 3-4, HR, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.
In addition to making a couple of dazzling plays in RF, Adolis García had himself a big game at the plate with his ninth HR of the season and just missed his tenth with a double off the wall in the seventh inning. It has been a largely disappointing 2025 at the plate for Garcia and most of the Rangers’ lineup. Here’s hoping that Friday’s success jumpstarts the Texas bats.
Agustín Ramírez (MIA): 2-4, HR, R, 4 RBI.
Agustín Ramírez continues to impress with his power, and he now has 11 HRs in just 201 at-bats in his rookie season. Acquired from the Yankees in the Jazz Chisholm Jr. trade last year, it looks like the Marlins have themselves a franchise catcher on their hands.
Nick Castellanos (PHI): 3-5, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI.
Nick Castellanos sealed what was a tie game in the beginning of the seventh inning with a two-run HR in the eighth to give Philadelphia a 10-2 win against the Mets. The 33-year-old veteran has been particularly strong at the plate over the last 15 games, hitting .305/.328/.559.
Christian Yelich (MIL): 4-6, 2 2B, 8 RBI.
What an insane box score for the Brewers, who scored 17 runs on 19 hits without hitting a HR and only mustering four doubles. Christian Yelich also had himself a somewhat bizarre game, setting a career-high with eight RBI while somehow not scoring himself at all.
Jackson Chourio (MIL): 2-3, 2 2B, 4 R, 3 RBI, 3 BB.
Jackson Chourio helped set the table for Yelich’s career game, getting on base five times and scoring four runs as Milwaukee annihilated the Twins 17-6. Chourio has really settled in at the plate over the last few months, doing a good job of balancing on-base ability, power, and speed.
Yandy Díaz (TB): 3-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.
Yandy Díaz led off the game for Tampa Bay with his 11th HR of the season and followed it up with his 12th in the fifth inning to lead the Rays to a 14-8 win over Detroit.
Matt Thaiss (TB): 3-4, 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB.
Former Angels backup catcher Matt Thaiss stepped up in a big way for Tampa Bay as well, knocking in four runs in the blowout win.
Riley Greene (DET): 3-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, BB.
Riley Greene has been absolutely scorching hot at the plate over the last week, and he hit his 16th and 17th HRs of the campaign on Friday. He is now hitting .379/.406/.897 over his last seven games.
Ketel Marte (ARI): 3-4, HR, 2 2B, 2 R, 5 RBI.
The Diamondbacks took full advantage of Coors Field on Friday, and Ketel Marte set the table for Arizona with three extra-base hits, including a three-run bomb for his 13th of the season. Marte has been one of the best hitters in baseball over the last month, hitting .322/.429/.619 with ten HRs in that span.
Eugenio Suárez (ARI): 4-6, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI.
Eugenio Suárez has an addiction to hitting HRs when I’m writing an article, to the point where my phone just automatically loads the name Suarez after I type Eugenio. After two more on Friday, Suarez is up to 24 for the season, and he also reached the 300 HR plateau for his career in Arizona’s 14-8 win.
Ildemaro Vargas (ARI): 3-5, HR, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI.
Not known for his bat like Marte and Suarez, Ildemaro Vargas contributed in a big way at the plate against the Rockies, cranking his first HR of 2025 and adding two more hits in the win.
Jeremy Peña (HOU): 3-4, HR, R, RBI, BB.
Jeremy Peña continued his All-Star caliber season against the Angels, collecting three hits, including a first-inning HR off Yusei Kikuchi for his 10th of 2025. Pena is easily setting career-bests across the board, hitting .328/.383/.486 for the season.
Jonathan India (KC): 3-5, HR, 2B, R, 3 RBI.
Acquired for Brady Singer in the offseason, Jonathan India hasn’t quite replicated his Rookie of the Year season this year, but his outstanding game Friday propelled Kansas City to a 6-5 road win over San Diego. India’s three-run HR in the fifth inning off Nick Pivetta was his fourth of 2025 and gave the Royals a 4-0 lead they were just able to hold on to.
Ceddanne Rafaela (BOS): 3-4, HR, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI.
The Red Sox were able to stick it to former teammate Rafael Devers on Friday thanks in large part to Ceddanne Rafaela, who’s solo HR in the sixth inning gave Boston a 6-5 lead that they were able to close out. In addition to providing excellent defense in CF, Rafaela has been solid at the plate this season and is hitting .294/.345/.529 with three HRs over his last 15 games.
