Cal Raleigh will still have to wait a little while to know whether he is the American League MVP.
But the Seattle Mariners' superstar catcher can be assured he has the respect of his peers.
On Friday, Raleigh was named AllSportsPeople' MLB Player of the Year. It's an award voted on by the players themselves.
The voting, which included 312 player votes, broke down like this:
- Cal Raleigh 46%
- Aaron Judge 27%
- Shohei Ohtani 11%
Given that this wasn't just for the AL and was for the entire sport, it's that much more impressive, because Raleigh had to beat out not just Yankees slugger Aaron Judge but also Dodgers two-way great Shohei Ohtani.
MORE: Why Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers and not the Blue Jays
Raleigh joins two other Mariners to have won this award: Alex Rodriguez in 1996 and Ken Griffey Jr. In 1997.
The switch-hitting catcher belted 60 home runs in the regular season. That broke the previous single-season records for home runs by a catcher (48, Salvador Perez), switch-hitter (54, Mickey Mantle) and Mariner (56, Griffey Jr.).
Here's a sampling of a few quotes from the players who voted for Raleigh, via SN's Bill Trocchi:
- Braves third baseman Austin Riley: “Being a catcher is the heart (of the argument). I mean, you're trying to essentially keep a group of pitchers from going insane and keeping them light calling a game. They're all different. And you're getting beat up back there. I mean, you're constantly taking balls off to the thigh, inner thigh, off the shoulder from foul balls, and then trying to go hit.”
- Cubs shortstop Danbsy Swanson: “He's essentially two hitters, having to keep both swings dialed in. He might have to hit one way or the other, depending on the game situation, and to be able to do it is pretty remarkable.”
- Mariners backup catcher Mitch Garver: “He works hard at his craft. Offensively and defensively. The numbers are ultra respectable … You talk about consistency with this guy. It’s been really, really special to watch.”
Raleigh might come home with the MVP, voted on by the baseball writers, or he might not.
That won't lessen just how special a season he just completed.
It didn't end in a World Series appearance for the Mariners, but Raleigh did just about everything else he possibly could've to write his name in Seattle lore forever.
More World Series news
- Why Mookie Betts switched to shortstop from right field for Dodgers
- Buddy Kennedy will get a World Series ring no matter which team wins
- Meet Ernie Clement, Blue Jays' postseason record setter who is nominated for 2 Gold Gloves
- Why the Blue Jays traded away Teoscar Hernandez, paving his path to the Dodgers
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract looks like perfect Blue Jays decision
- Max Muncy's switch to glasses helped save his Dodgers career