In this edition: Mariners' star catcher Cal Raleigh returns from injury, an unconventional roster move to keep Jhonny Pereda is discussed, and Seattle police investigate a shooting near a playground.
Cal Raleigh's return: Mariners get reinforcement in the division race
The Seattle Mariners are preparing for a key boost: their primary catcher Cal Raleigh, who suffered a right oblique strain on May 14, is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday for the game against the Baltimore Orioles. Raleigh, who finished second in last season’s American League MVP voting, missed nearly a month, and his return comes at a crucial juncture for the club. As of Monday, the Mariners sit at 37-36, one game ahead of the Oakland Athletics and the Texas Rangers in the AL West. With Raleigh sidelined the team went 16-13, showing decent roster depth, but the return of the star should provide an extra jolt in the push for the division lead.
In an interview with The Seattle Times, Raleigh described his rehab period as “very productive.” He said the injury gave him a chance to rethink his game from the outside. “Obviously recovery was the priority. But to step back, understand where I am and where the team is, and watch from the sideline — that’s not what I wanted to be doing,” Raleigh said. “But ultimately it was a good time to reflect and see what I can do better, where to make adjustments, both as a player and as a teammate.” He noted that live batting practice even during the rehab stint helped him regain lost feel. “It was definitely exciting to be back in shape and playing. That’s the best part of returning — to feel those nerves and the good butterflies in your stomach again, which is awesome,” the catcher shared. “I’m really excited and energized to get going again.”
Before the injury, Raleigh was having a rough offensive season. In 41 games he was hitting just .161, yet managed seven homers and 18 RBIs. From April 28 to May 12 he endured the longest hitless stretch in MLB this season — 38 consecutive plate appearances without a hit. That nightmare stretch ended with two singles in a 10-2 rout of Houston. Raleigh later admitted he had been playing through pain in his right side, which likely contributed to the slump. “It was a whole different perspective,” he said last month. “Realizing how much I miss the game and how much I like spending time with the guys was a sobering experience. It makes me never want to go back on the injured list again.”
Things changed during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma. There, Raleigh torched opposing pitchers, hitting five home runs and totaling 12 RBIs across four games while batting .412. That surge likely reflected not just relief from pain but also technical adjustments. Raleigh resumed tee work on May 29 at the team’s Arizona complex and gradually ramped up, leading to a productive Tacoma stint. For context, an oblique strain is one of the trickiest injuries for a hitter because it involves the torso’s rotational muscles, directly affecting swing power and mechanics. A fast, successful recovery reflects both strong work from the medical staff and the player’s discipline.
Raleigh’s return isn’t just a positional upgrade at catcher. It’s a psychological lift for a team that, despite sitting atop the division, has serious questions about its offense. The Mariners rank among the worst in batting average in the league, and Raleigh — last year’s MVP-caliber performer — could be the catalyst to restore confidence to the lineup. His presence in the bottom of the order or even in the middle could alter the dynamics: he’s a home-run threat at any time and shows plate discipline (18 walks versus 16 runs scored this season), which helps create opportunities for other hitters. The Associated Press, which provided additional reporting for this piece, emphasizes that in a tight AL West race where margins are slim, the return of a player of Raleigh’s caliber could be decisive in the playoff hunt. The key question is whether he can replicate his Triple-A success back in the majors, where the pressure and quality of pitching are significantly higher.
Idea for the Mariners: keep Pereda and help Refsnyder regain form
The catcher situation in Seattle has unexpectedly become a tactical talking point. It might seem that Raleigh’s return from injury automatically means sending less-experienced Jhonny Pereda down to the minors. But Pereda’s play has been strong enough that team officials and local writers are weighing a smarter approach. The idea is to avoid losing a useful right-handed bat by placing outfielder Rob Refsnyder on the injured list. That would preserve roster depth and give the veteran time to heal a knee issue while he tries to bounce back offensively.
At the center of this story is a tricky roster puzzle. Raleigh, who had a historic season for a catcher last year, was sidelined with an oblique strain and his return is planned for Tuesday. The obvious move would be to option Pereda, who has minor-league options remaining, back to Triple-A. A bolder play would be to cut Mitch Garver, who could be claimed by other teams. But Pereda deserves particular attention.
In 19 games this year the 30-year-old has produced respectable numbers: a .270 batting average, a .324 on-base percentage and two home runs. Given the Mariners’ huge struggles against left-handed pitching (the team ranks last in MLB in batting average, slugging percentage and OPS versus lefties), every right-handed bat is highly valuable. Pereda is exactly that kind of hitter, and losing him would be counterproductive.
Against that backdrop, sports commentator Brock Huard suggested an unorthodox solution on the “Brock and Salk” show: place outfielder Rob Refsnyder on the injured list. Refsnyder recently complained of knee pain that has bothered him all season. The problem is that Refsnyder was signed specifically for his offense against left-handers, but his results have been disastrous. In 42 games he is hitting a meager .148 with a .462 OPS, and 84% of his plate appearances have come against lefties. As Huard aptly noted, “Pereda gives you infinitely more than what you’re getting from Refsnyder.”
The idea has multiple benefits. Host Mike Salk supported it: first, adding a third catcher would prevent overworking Raleigh, giving him more days as the designated hitter. Second, it would give Refsnyder the rest he needs. “If it gives him enough rest to return and become the guy they signed, I’m all for it,” Salk said. That way the club not only keeps a valuable player but also gets a chance to revive an expensive signing while strengthening the lineup in the short term.
As noted in an article on Seattle Sports, a decision could come in the next few days. For now one thing is clear: simply optioning Pereda away would knowingly weaken a team already scrambling for ways to win.
Shooting near Seattle playground: two injured, police seek witnesses
Seattle police are investigating a shooting that occurred Monday evening in the Hawthorne Hills neighborhood, near a children’s playground. According to law enforcement, shots were fired in Pathways Park, located at the intersection of Mithun Place Northeast, just a few blocks north of Seattle Children’s Hospital. The incident happened shortly before 9 p.m. — a time when people, including children, might still be in the park. A 41-year-old man was shot in the thigh and a 39-year-old woman was shot in the ankle. Both victims were taken to Harborview Medical Center; their injuries are described as serious but their conditions are stable.
FOX 13 Seattle reports that the shooting was preceded by a fight involving multiple people. Neighbors living near the scene told reporters they heard about a dozen gunshots. Police responded quickly and spent several hours collecting shell casings scattered around the park. Despite a large response, the suspect has not been identified; police do not have a description, and the motives and circumstances of the incident remain under investigation. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Seattle Police Department’s Major Crimes tip line.
This case is yet another reminder of the problem of street violence in American cities, where even playgrounds aren’t guaranteed to be safe. It’s important to note that the term “penetrating wound” in this context indicates that a bullet damaged tissue but most likely did not hit vital organs or major arteries, which gives the victims a good chance of survival. Experts also point out that a shooting at dusk near a playground is not just a criminal incident but a blow to residents’ sense of safety in public spaces. Psychologists say such events can cause long-term anxiety among locals, especially families with children who regularly use the park. Police must determine whether the shooting was a spontaneous escalation of an argument or a planned attack, and whether the victims had any ties to criminal activity or other local issues.
