Seattle – T-Mobile Park exploded again today when MLB officially announced its “Best Hits of 2025” list, and the name at No. 35 made Seattle proud: Cal Raleigh. His iconic home run – a swing described as “cinematic” – has officially been honored as one of the most outstanding and memorable hits of the season.
Cal Raleigh’s home run, which was honored in the seventh inning against the Rangers in August, was so perfect that experts called it “the most beautiful swing of the year.” The ball soared high, spun hard, and landed deep in the right-field seats, creating a moment that left T-Mobile Park breathless for a few seconds before erupting. MLB described it as “PURE ART. A HOME RUN THAT DEFINES THE SEASON.”
The moment was more than just a hit. It was a convergence of power, technique, emotion, and pressure. Raleigh stepped to the plate in a tense situation, when the Mariners needed a moment to change the game. And then, with just one swing, he changed not only the game – but the season.
The “CRACK!” sound rang out, a rare crisp and clear sound, bringing the entire stadium to its feet. The ball left the bat as if programmed to fly in a perfect parabola. The cameras had to pan faster, the commentators had to scream louder, and the fans – they could only put their hands to their mouths and wait for the ball to hit the seats.
Raleigh walked to home plate to the roar of tens of thousands. Teammates rushed out of the dugout, the entire stadium went wild. But the most remarkable thing was Raleigh’s expression: no exaggeration, no over-excitement – just a slight smile, a nod, as if he understood he had just created something… bigger than baseball.
The honor from MLB took this home run to a new level. Analysts described Cal Raleigh’s hit with words never before used for a catcher:
“A masterpiece of timing.”
“A slugger hit that entered the legendary category.”
“A home run you have to watch many times to believe.”
On the Best Hits of 2025 list, Raleigh’s No. 35 hit was even compared to the classic home runs of Ken Griffey Jr. – who once set Seattle on fire every time he swung the bat. And now, Cal Raleigh is following in his footsteps.
Manager Scott Servais said after the announcement:
“It wasn’t just a home run. It was a moment when Cal came of age, a moment when the Mariners knew they were standing with a special player.”
The fans felt it too. Seattle has seen legends create magic many times, but this hit had a different kind of energy: the cool, powerful, flawless quality of a slugger at the peak of his powers.
On social media, the hashtags #RaleighMagic and #BestHit35 were all over the place. Mariners fans wrote:
“THIS IS A HOME RUN THAT MAKES US SHINCH. NOT FOR THE DISTANCE, BUT FOR THE FEELING.”
Cal Raleigh has had many big moments in his career, but this one will live on forever. Not for its sheer power, but because it encapsulated the Mariners spirit: beautiful, bold, and emotional.
Seattle had a moment of its life.
MLB recognized it.
And the fans knew it – they had just witnessed a hit of immortality.
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