Seattle Mariners’ and former Florida State baseball star Cal Raleigh swung his way into the history books, becoming the first catcher to win the Home Run Derby on July 14.
He defeated Rays’ third baseman Junior Caminero 18-15 in the final round. Raleigh is the first former Seminole to win the All-Star showpiece event. He joins Hall-of-Famer Ken Griffey Jr. as the only Mariners to ever win the contest.
“It means the world,” Raleigh told the ESPN broadcast after winning. “I just can’t believe I won.”
“It is unbelievable.”
He was joined on the field by his father Todd, who threw to Cal in the Derby, and younger brother Todd Jr., who was the catcher for Cal.
Raleigh leads all of MLB in home runs this season with 38, and he launched 17 or more home runs in each round on Monday night. His Derby success, however, came by a very fine margin as he was tied with Athletics star Brent Rooker in the first round with 17 home runs each.
There was no swing-off to decide who advanced as the MLB moved on whoever hit the furthest home run. Both sluggers hit a 470-foot home run, and it had to go down to the decimal point.
Rooker’s home run went 470.535 and Raleigh’s went 470.617, advancing him by 0.08 feet.
Raleigh played for the Seminoles from 2016 to 2018 and was an All-American in his time in Garnet and Gold.
He will next compete in the MLB All-Star game on Tuesday, July 15. It can be watched on Fox at 7 p.m.
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU baseball legend Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners C, makes history with Home Run Derby win
Reporting by Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
