The Best Catcher in Baseball Was Stuck. Then He Wasn’t.

Cal Raleigh hit 60 home runs last year during the 2025 season. Sixty! That is the most ever by a catcher.

But to start 2026, he couldn’t get a hit to save his life.

Ten games in, the Mariners catcher was batting .132. He had not hit a single home run. Not one. The guy who scared every pitcher last summer suddenly looked lost up there.

Then on Monday May 4th, he stepped in against Jacob deGrom.

deGrom is one of the toughest pitchers alive. He throws 99 miles per hour. He has the kind of arm that wins big league awards. In fact, he is a 2025 All-Star and he’s won the top pitching award in baseball twice. If his technical abilities aren’t meaningful enough, then consider his social recognition. Jacob deGrom was named the American Leagues 2025 Players Choice Comeback Player of the Year. Most hitters would be happy just to put the ball in play against him.

Raleigh did not start his at-bat well. Two pitches in, the count was 0-2. Most hitters understand that with a 2-0 count, there is a real chance of striking out and secretly hope for better luck next time.

Raleigh doesn’t think that way. The 2025 Home Run King, and MLB Player of the Year only needed one more pitch. He fouled off the next pitch. Then another. Then another. Raleigh worked deGrom through 11 pitches – his longest at-bat of his year.

On pitch twelve, deGrom came back with a 99-mph fastball. Raleigh hit it 418 feet over the right field wall.

The slump was over.

What a catcher can learn from this

Slumps happen. They happen to Little Leaguers. They happen to high school kids. They happen to the best catcher in the big leagues.

But a 0-2 count is not the end. It is a chance to compete. Foul off the tough ones. Wait for one you can drive. Make the pitcher work for it.

Raleigh did not get bigger or stronger on that 12th pitch. He just refused to give the at-bat away.

That is something every catcher behind every plate can copy.