Big Dumper is ready to take on the world.
The announcement comes on the day that Raleigh, who leads MLB with 38 homers, will compete in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Truist Park in Atlanta and one day before he makes his All-Star debut as the AL’s starting catcher in the Midsummer Classic. It’s also just another chapter in what’s been one of baseball’s best stories this season.
In addition to leading MLB in long balls, Raleigh also leads all players in RBIs (82) and has a 1.010 OPS, second only to Judge (1.195). He’s already blown by his previous career high in homers (34) and is on pace to smash his career high of 100 RBIs set last season. And, oh yeah, he’s on pace to hit 64 home runs, which would not only destroy the previous single-season mark for a primary catcher — the 48 hit by the Royals’ Salvador Perez in 2021 — but would set a new American League single-season record, besting the 62 hit by Judge in 2022.
That would be quite the prelude for Raleigh’s WBC debut next spring. But regardless, he’s another reason why the Team USA roster should be a headache for pitching staffs around the world.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled for March 5-17 in four host cities — San Juan, Houston, Tokyo and Miami — with the championship game to be played March 17 at loanDepot park in Miami.
Team USA opens play in Pool B at Daikin Park in Houston on Friday, March 6, against Brazil. The other three teams in the group are Mexico, Great Britain and Italy.
