Seattle Mariners star Cal Raleigh became the first catcher to win Home Run Derby on Monday, edging Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero in the final, 18 to 15. Caminero would’ve been the youngest Derby champion ever at 22 years old.
Raleigh is the second Mariner to win the Derby, joining Ken Griffey Jr., who won the event three times. Raleigh is also the first switch-hitter to win the Derby outright, as Ruben Sierra, the only other switch-hitter to win, shared the title in 1998.
It has been a dream season and then some for Raleigh so far. He has an MLB-best 38 homers going into the All-Star break and is on pace to not just set a record among catchers or Mariners players. He’s on pace for 64 homers, which would break Aaron Judge’s American League record of 62, considered by many to be MLB’s clean home run record.
