The 2025 MLB All-Star Game is set to take place at Truist Park next month, with Will Smith and Cal Raleigh the current leading vote-getters at catcher in their respective leagues.
Smith has long established himself as one of the top all-around backstops in baseball, but Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners is in the midst of perhaps the best offensive season by a catcher in MLB history.
Raleigh is batting .276/.383/.659 with a league-leading 31 home runs and 66 RBI in 75 games. He recently passed Mickey Mantle, José Ramírez and Lance Berkman for the most homers by a switch-hitter before the All-Star break.
While those are historic numbers, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts still believes Smith is the best catcher in baseball.
“Well, I’m biased, number one,” Roberts began. “I just think that his ability to get a big hit, I think that the throwing, I think what he does with our pitchers, which I don’t know what Cal does, the ability to drive in runs, to hit left, hit right.
“So that’s for me. And I think the consistency. I think Will has done it for four years, something like that, and performed at a high level.”
For all of the success Raleigh has enjoyed, Smith is having an excellent season himself. He leads the National League with a .328 batting average and .425 on-base plus slugging percentage, to go along with 15 doubles, one triple, nine home runs and 42 RBI in 62 games.
Smith is also considered one of the best game-callers in the league and provides additional value with his defense behind the plate. Raleigh is no slouch in that department either, having won the American League Platinum Glove Award last season.
Dave Roberts happy for Will Smith
Smith is in the middle of a bounce-back season after being limited by a left ankle injury last year.
“It’s great,” Roberts said of Smith’s success. “He’s the best catcher in baseball. I know Raleigh is having a good year. He’s going to be the starter in the All-Star Game, and he’s just a talented, young ballplayer.
“Going through the injuries and never making an excuse for it, but now he’s healthy, he’s strong. You can see it in the batter’s box and behind the plate. He’s really performing. I’ve always had the utmost confidence in Will as a ballplayer.”
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