2025 MLB Home Run Race: Cal Raleigh Leads Historic Power Surge in Baseball

A Season of Power

Seattle Mariners’ catcher Cal Raleigh currently leads Major League Baseball with 50 home runs, setting a new record for catchers and surpassing Salvador Perez’s previous mark of 48 set in 2021.

Breaking Records

Raleigh is now pursuing Mickey Mantle’s switch-hitter record of 54 home runs in a single season, with just four homers needed to tie the mark and 25 team games remaining. Beyond that lies Aaron Judge’s American League record of 62 homers, which he set in 2022 when he broke Roger Maris’ longstanding mark. While Raleigh was previously on pace for 61 home runs, a recent slow week has reduced his projected total to 59.

League-Wide Power Surge

The 2025 season has witnessed an unprecedented power display, with five players already reaching 30 or more home runs, including Yankees’ Aaron Judge (35), Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (32), D-backs’ Eugenio Suárez (31), and Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber (30). This marks the first season with that many players reaching such high homer totals in the first half, making it just the sixth season in history with five 30-homer hitters through this point and the first since 2006.

Evolution of the Game

The surge in home runs reflects a dramatic shift in baseball strategy, with fly ball rates increasing from 33.8% (2015) to 38.5% this season. The 2025 season has already surpassed 2015’s total fly ball count, with nearly 30 games still remaining. This emphasis on aerial damage has transformed the game’s fundamental approach.

Looking Ahead

As the season enters its final weeks, baseball fans are anticipating more historic moments. The remainder of the season promises to be filled with excitement as players chase various home run milestones and records.