Mariners’ Cal Raleigh threw out the fastest base stealer in MLB

Billy Heyen

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Mariners’ Cal Raleigh threw out the fastest base stealer in MLB image

Cal Raleigh's magical season isn't just at the plate.

The Seattle Mariners' superstar is also one of the best defensive catchers on the planet. He showed that off on Saturday night.

Tampa Bay Rays rookie Chandler Simpson is regarded by many as the best and/or fastest base stealer in baseball.

Simpson guessed right Saturday night, taking off for second on an offspeed pitch.

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Raleigh still gunned him out.

Talk about a frozen rope of a throw right into the glove of shortstop J.P. Crawford. Perfection.

Simpson immediately points to his dugout hoping to initiate a challenge. He can't believe he was just thrown out.

The rookie has actually been thrown out nine times this season, in addition to his 32 bags, so teams are adjusting to his tendencies a bit.

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Raleigh still had no business throwing Simpson out on an 89 MPH offering that hovered off the plate and forced Raleigh to wait just a split second to start his throwing mechanics.

But as that post on X said: "What doesn't he do?"

Raleigh might not win the AL MVP, but he's as valuable a player as the Mariners have had in a long time.

His special season won't be forgotten anytime soon.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle