Cal Raleigh’s first half of the 2025 season has been outstanding, as the Mariners catcher leads the league in home runs at the All-Star break. That has allowed Raleigh to break through to the mainstream, with his popular nickname only adding to his appeal.
Mariners fans know Raleigh by the moniker “Big Dumper,” which has become more popular as Raleigh has gotten better as a baseball player. Now that Raleigh is a full-blown star, he also has one of the best-known nicknames in the sport.
Here’s a breakdown of the nickname and how it grew from an inside joke to a mainstream phenomenon.
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Cal Raleigh ‘Big Dumper’ nickname, explained
According to Corey Brock of The Athletic, Raleigh was given the nickname in the summer of 2020 when the Mariners’ prospects worked out together after the minor league season was canceled due to COVID. Raleigh’s fellow prospects enjoyed joking about the size of Raleigh’s butt, so much so that it caught on.
“So, if we go back to the very beginning, everyone has always joked around that I have a big butt,” Raleigh said via The Athletic. “It’s not anything that I thought about. And then they said the same thing in college and in the minors.”
However, the first known instance of Raleigh being called “Big Dumper” in public was on June 11, 2021, when he was called up to the majors for the first time. That was when former Mariners outfielder Jarred Kelenic called Raleigh “Big Dumper” in a social media message.
“Big dumper to the show,” Kelenic said.
Big dumper to the show🥺 https://t.co/ZnlVceNP3W
— Jarred Kelenic (@jarredkelenic) July 11, 2021
From there, “Big Dumper” took off and became a fan favorite, with the Mariners even selling jerseys with his nickname written on the back. Raleigh has come to terms with his nickname as fans grew to love it.
“I love it. I think it’s great,” Raleigh said. “You got to own it, embrace it. As long as you’re having fun with it, that’s what baseball is all about. As long as it brings good energy and vibes, it’s all good.”
Now, the Mariners are all in on the nickname, including holding a “Big Dumper” segment during games where fans can “dump” other fans. They also made a commercial of Raleigh driving a “Big Dumper” truck and created a Raleigh “Big Dumper” bobblehead.
The only person who doesn’t like the nickname seems to be Raleigh’s mom.
omg Becky, look at that bobblehead
🎟️ https://t.co/bpRba3Cjxn pic.twitter.com/t7D6zY3ygp
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 3, 2025
“It stinks!” she said while being interviewed on the Mariners broadcast earlier this year. “I’ll roll with it. He’s accepted it, so I’m good with it, too. I won’t say I love it, though.”
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Cal Raleigh stats
| Year | Games | HR | RBI | H | R | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| 2021 | 47 | 2 | 13 | 25 | 6 | .180 | .223 | .309 | .532 |
| 2022 | 119 | 27 | 63 | 78 | 46 | .211 | .284 | .489 | .774 |
| 2023 | 145 | 30 | 75 | 119 | 78 | .232 | .306 | .456 | .762 |
| 2024 | 153 | 34 | 100 | 120 | 73 | .220 | .312 | .436 | .748 |
| 2025 | 94 | 38 | 82 | 90 | 65 | .259 | .376 | .634 | 1.011 |
Raleigh’s been one of the best catchers in the league since his first full season in 2022Â when he combined his gold-glove-caliber defense with above-average offense. This year, he’s taken his offense up several levels and is an MVP candidate in the American League.
MORE:Â Full list of starters, reserves for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game
Cal Raleigh career highlights
In 2022, the Mariners ended their 21-year playoff drought when Raleigh hit a walk-off home run against the Athletics, cementing the catcher’s place in the hearts of Mariners fans everywhere.
IT’S A WALK-OFF! THE MARINERS ARE GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS! pic.twitter.com/VNGkrpDgXZ
— ROOT SPORTS™ | NW (@ROOTSPORTS_NW) October 1, 2022
Over the past few years, Raleigh has provided Seattle with many highlight-worthy plays, including a walk-off grand slam against the White Sox last year.
WALKOFF SLAM CAL RALEIGH pic.twitter.com/5QzAik4Xa9
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 11, 2024
This year, Raleigh has already surpassed Ken Griffey Jr. for most home runs before the All-Star break in franchise history. He is also likely to set the record for most home runs by a catcher in MLB history, which is currently 48 by Salvador Perez in 2021.
HISTORY.
With 35 home runs, Cal Raleigh ties Ken Griffey Jr. for the most in franchise history before the All-Star break. #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/1MP1E1Yx1o
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 4, 2025
MORE:Â 10 players who should have made the 2025 MLB All-Star Game
