Top 10 Mariners First Half Performances

Where does Cal Raleigh's 2025 rank among Seattle greats?

As a teacher on summer break, time is a flat circle. I am not sure what that means but it sounded great when Matthew McConaughey said it in True Detective. The point is that I poured through the entire Mariners franchise history year by year to find the best first half performances and where Cal ranks in this list. I am happy to share my hand written notes with you for reference.

Let me just say that this is really hard. First, comparing pitchers to hitters is like speaking English to someone who only understands French. Second, putting each season within the context of the league makes for a lot of checking and double checking stats. (Thank you Fangraphs). Lastly, Edgar, A-Rod, Griffey and Ichiro had so many first half performances that were similiar, it became nearly impossible to pick among them.

But rankings are meant to be debated. Maybe you are sad to see no Bret Boone here or Robinson Cano or even Cliff Lee. (Seriously, look up Cliff Lee’s 2010 first half). Let us know and tell your friends, but just make sure you scroll to the bottom.

#10 - Edwin Diaz (2018)

Key Stats: 0-2, 2.25 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 48 games, 36 saves, 14.81 K/9, 2.4 WAR (as a reliever)

Notes: While we all marvel at Andres Munoz (who is now a two time All-Start), Edwin Diaz posting 36 saves at the All-Star break is absurd. Add into that a 0.79 WHIP, a ridiclous K/9 and 2.4 WAR as a closer? It is the best first half relief pitcher performance in franchise history.

#9 - Ichiro (2003)

Key Stats: .352, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 69 R, 25 SB, 4.4 WAR

Notes: It is really hard to distinguish one Ichiro first half from another. He hit .343 or better in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2009 for the M’s. That is crazy. And actually in this particular year, Bret Boone had a higher WAR. However, Ichiro was 5th in SB, 6th in WAR, and 2nd in batting average in all of baseball plus still outstanding defense in right field.

#8 - Alex Rodriguez (2000)

Key Stats: .345, 24 HR, 78 RBI, 84 R, 8 SB, 1.079 OPS, 172 WRC+, 6.0 WAR

Notes: A truly crazy stat line, but the year 2000 was a crazy offensive year. Is it ridiculous that A-Rod’s .345 average was 18th best in baseball? Yes. So is the fact that 24 HR ranked him 16th, but his WAR is the second best all-time in Mariners history for a first half.

#7 - Randy Johnson (1995)

Key Stats: 9-1, 2.88 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 2.68 FIP, 16 GS, 109 IP, 152 K’s, 4.8 WAR

Notes: 1995 was a very pitcher friendly year, but Randy still was throwing smoke. Despite having an ERA that was only 12th, the Big Unit ranked 1st in WAR, 1st in K’s, 1st in K%, 1st in K/9, and 10th in WHIP.

#6 - Edgar Martinez (1996)

Key Stats: .346, 22 HR, 78 RBI, 79 R, 8 SB, 1.179 OPS, 185 WRC+, 4.8 WAR

Notes: Edgar was first in all of baseball in WAR in the first half of the 1996 season. He was second in WRC+ behind Mark McGwire (as well as OPS) and tied for 3rd in MLB in RBI. His average ranked him 7th overall while still hitting 22 bombs.

#5 - Ken Griffey, Jr. (1997)

Key Stats: .307, 30 HR, 84 RBI, 67 R, 8 SB, 1.031 OPS, 154 WRC+, 4.8 WAR

Notes: Junior was third in MLB in WAR at the break while ranking 2nd in HR and 1st in RBI. He did this while hitting .307 with eight steals.

#4 - Felix Hernandez (2014)

Key Stats: 11-2, 2.12 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 2.03 FIP, 20 GS, 144 1/3 IP, 154 K’s, 4.6 WAR

Notes: Just look at those numbers again. Felix ranked 1st in MLB among all pitchers in WAR, 2nd in ERA, 1st in FIP, 2nd in innings pitched, 2nd in WHIP and 2nd in K’s. Truly dominant.

#3 - Ken Griffey, Jr. (1994)

Key Stats: .329, 33 HR, 69 RBI, 72 R, 7 SB, 1.104 OPS, 174 WRC+, 5.7 WAR

Notes: Griffey had so many fantastic first half performances that it is hard to differentiate them after awhile. In the 1994 season, Junior would have won MVP if there wasn’t a strike. At the break, he was 2nd in HRs, 3rd in WAR, 6th in WRC+, 5th in OPS in all of baseball.

#2 - Ken Griffey, Jr. (1998)

Key Stats: .299, 35 HR, 79 RBI, 76 R, 8 SB, 1.133 OPS, 163 WRC+, 4.5 WAR

Notes: Griffey, McGwire, Sosa. Those three names captured baseball in this 1998 season. At the break, Junior was 1st in Major League Baseball in runs scored, 2nd in homers and 4th in RBI. While still hitting nearly .300.

#1 - Cal Raleigh (2025)

Key Stats: .259, 38 HR, 82 RBI, 65 R, 10 SB, 1.011 OPS, 178 WRC+, 6.2 WAR

Notes: Cal finished the first half of the 2025 season as one of only two players in MLB history to record 35+ HRs and 10+ steals (Reggie Jackson being the other). The Big Dumper also has the best WAR in Mariners history for a first half and leads all of baseball in HRs while ranking 2nd in WAR, 3rd in WRC+, and 3rd in OPS (behind Judge and Acuna).