Mariners’ Cal Raleigh ties Johnny Bench for historic MLB catcher home run record

Cal Raleigh just keeps doing it.

On the very first pitch he saw at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon, the switch-hitter batting from the right side lasered a line drive over the left-center fence.

It was the 28th homer of the season for the Seattle Mariners catcher, and with it came a tied MLB record.

Those 28 homers match Reds legend Johnny Bench for the most homers ever hit before the All-Star Game by a primary catcher.

Cal Raleigh ties Johnny Bench for the most home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break 💪 pic.twitter.com/qnCgrnuvqb

MORE: Why Sammy Sosa didn't return to Wrigley Field for two decades

Bench previously held the catcher single-season homer record, too, with 45.

But that was broken a few years ago by Salvador Perez when he hit 48 for the Royals.

Raleigh has all these records in his sights. He still has weeks to break this first-half Bench record.

And he's well on pace to pass Perez and wind up somewhere in the 50s for homers.

Of course, Raleigh will have to actually carry those accomplishments out on the field.

But right now, who is betting against Raleigh hitting some more home runs?

MORE MLB NEWS:

• Barry Bonds reveals how he hopes to make Willie Mays proud
• How Nationals won the Juan Soto trade
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto robbed of rare MLB history by bad umpire call
• Cardinals' Steven Matz joins Bob Gibson with historic 4-strikeout inning
• Prince Fielder makes an epic home run comeback
• Paul Skenes off to best 39-game start to pitching career in MLB history