It’s been a stunning reversal of fortune for Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. Just one year after launching a jaw-dropping 60 home runs and driving in 125 RBIs—finishing second in AL MVP voting behind Aaron Judge—the man known as "Big Dumper" has hit rock bottom.

Through the first 39 games of the 2026 season, Raleigh is mired in a slump that has fans and analysts scratching their heads. His latest outing against the Houston Astros saw him go 0-for-4, extending a hitless streak that now sits at a staggering 36 consecutive at-bats. For context, that's nearly nine full games without a single base knock.

The numbers are ugly. Raleigh’s slash line has plummeted to .157/.238/.320—a far cry from the .247/.359/.589 line that made him a household name last year. With MVP hopes fading fast, the question on everyone’s mind is simple: what’s gone wrong?

But here’s where it gets interesting. Despite the brutal start, there are signs that Raleigh isn’t broken—just unlucky. His BABIP (batting average on balls in play) sits at an absurdly low .181, the third-worst among qualified hitters in all of baseball. While Raleigh has always been fly-ball heavy (meaning more of his outs come on fly balls caught in the outfield), his career BABIP is .248. That gap suggests some serious bad luck is at play.

Even more encouraging? The underlying mechanics look solid. His swing speed and swing length from both sides of the plate are consistent with last year’s MVP-caliber performance. No mysterious swing changes. No whispers of injury. Just a cold streak that feels colder than most.

For a player who came within inches of baseball immortality, this slump is a humbling reminder of the game’s unpredictability. But if history tells us anything, it’s that Big Dumper isn’t done yet. When those bloops start falling and those liners stop finding gloves, Raleigh could be due for a breakout that reminds everyone why he was the talk of the league just one year ago.