Baseball is a game of streaks, and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh just snapped one he'd rather forget—the longest hitless stretch of his career.

Last season, Raleigh was the toast of the Emerald City, out-homering Kyle Schwarber in a thrilling 60-56 battle and finishing runner-up to Aaron Judge for the American League MVP award. He slashed .247/.359/.948 with 125 RBIs, cementing his status as one of the game's premier power threats. But after Seattle's postseason run fell short in the ALCS, all eyes were on the 29-year-old to see if he could build on that breakout campaign.

The follow-up, however, has been a struggle. Raleigh went hitless in 14 plate appearances for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, and that cold spell carried into the regular season. Through his first 39 games, he's slashing just .157/.238/.320—a far cry from the MVP-caliber numbers he posted a year ago.

The frustration hit its peak over the past few weeks. Raleigh entered Tuesday night's matchup against the Houston Astros mired in an 0-for-36 slump. When he stepped to the plate in the top of the seventh inning, the count stood at 0-for-38—the longest hitless streak of his career and the worst by any MLB player this season.

Then, finally, a breakthrough. Raleigh drove a ball into the outfield for a single, snapping the drought and bringing a collective sigh of relief from the Mariners' dugout. The hit didn't just end a personal nightmare—it was a moment of hope for a team that desperately needs its slugger back in form.

For a player who once traded home runs with the best in the game, this single might be the spark that reignites his season. All eyes will be on Raleigh in the coming days to see if he can turn this small victory into a full-fledged turnaround.