The Seattle Mariners have placed star catcher Cal Raleigh on the 10-day injured list due to a right oblique strain, marking the first IL stint of his six-year MLB career. The 29-year-old, who finished as the AL MVP runner-up last season, had been struggling at the plate before showing signs of a breakthrough.

Raleigh was enduring the longest hitless streak in the majors this season when he finally broke out Tuesday night, smacking two singles in a dominant 10-2 win over the Houston Astros. However, the celebration was short-lived. During Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to the Astros, Raleigh exited in the eighth inning after aggravating his right side—an area that had already sidelined him for three games earlier this month (May 2-4) due to soreness.

"Nobody wants to go on the IL, and especially not Cal," said manager Dan Wilson. "But I think at this point it’s the smart thing to do."

Through 41 games this season, Raleigh’s numbers tell a tough story: a .161 batting average with seven home runs, 18 RBIs, four doubles, 18 walks, and 16 runs scored. That average is the second-lowest among qualified major league hitters, trailing only Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins (.150).

To fill Raleigh’s spot, the Mariners have recalled catcher Jhonny Pereda from Triple-A Tacoma. The 30-year-old has appeared in just two games with Seattle this season, hitting .400 with one run scored. As Raleigh focuses on recovery, the Mariners will look to Pereda and their pitching staff to hold the line during this crucial stretch.