Mariners’ Cal Raleigh’s slow start is a sign to panic

Mariners’ Cal Raleigh’s slow start is a sign to panic originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Seattle Mariners are not enjoying the same kind of success as they once had a season ago. They are in a tough American League West, that is relatively close together after the first month of play.

There is one big reason as to why the Mariners are not at the top, or near it, and it is due to one of their star players lackluster season thus far. After smashing a franchise record 60 home runs, and igniting a fandom within this team's community, Cal Raleigh has not been the same player.

For Mariners fans, it is time to start to panic that he might be a one-hit wonder.

The league has also been noticing, as Thomas Harrington of MLB.com marked Raleigh as one of the players that are off to a slow start this season. And, he is 100% right to think that it will all work out eventually, but there has to be a sense that this might be it.

Raleigh has a batting average of .186 on the year, and a mystery injury has led to his recent benching from Mariners manager Dan Wilson. He has mustered to knock seven home runs thus far, and added 18 RBIs.

Harrington might be right, and it is too soon to jump to conclusions. But, there is enough validity here to think that this trend of bad play might continue. For Mariners fans, the best case scenario here is that t and he can get back to his 2025 form.