Seattle is on fire again – not for home runs, but for the heart of its uncompromising captain: Cal Raleigh. The Seattle Mariners’ star catcher has been officially honored with the 2025 Heart & Hustle Award, one of MLB’s highest honors for players who embody the purest passion, fighting spirit, and love of baseball.
Presented by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA), the award celebrates not just skill, but also the “heart and soul” of the game. For Raleigh, it’s more special than ever — after a 2025 season in which he rewrote history: 60 home runs, 125 RBI, a Gold Glove, a Platinum Glove, and a $105 million contract.
“Cal was more than just a great catcher — he was the soul of the locker room, the guy who made us want to fight every day,” a teammate said after the announcement.
Raleigh’s dedication to the Mariners has become a symbol of Seattle’s fighting culture: unpretentious, unabashed, and dedicated to the team. He is affectionately known by fans as “The Iron Heart of Seattle.”
In a short speech after the ceremony, Raleigh said, “I never thought I would be awarded for my heart. But if there’s anything I’m prouder of than the numbers, it’s the love I have for my teammates and this city.”
As the Mariners prepare to restructure for the 2026 season, Raleigh’s good news is a powerful dose of inspiration. To Seattle fans, Cal Raleigh is more than just MLB’s greatest catcher — he’s the keeper of the Emerald City’s baseball soul.
And now, as the spotlight shines on him, the entire city of Seattle may have only one thing to say:
“Congratulations, Cal Raleigh — this heart belongs to Seattle.”
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