95TH MLB ALL-STAR GAME

July 14, 2025

Cal Raleigh

Todd Raleigh

Todd Raleigh, Jr.

Truist Park

Home Run Derby Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Congrats to Cal and the Raleigh family. Todd and T, great night.

Q. Congrats, man. How many times have you rewatched that video or been asked about it over the past week, and just how surreal is it to have it all come true tonight?

CAL RALEIGH: I mean, the video is crazy. I mean, I don't know where they found that thing in the archives. Yeah, I mean, just kind of surreal. You don't think you're going to win it. You don't think you'll ever get invited. Then you get invited. The fact that you win it with your family, super special. Just what a night.

Q. Cal, congratulations. You've become the first catcher and the first switch hitter to win the competition. How do you feel about it?

CAL RALEIGH: I didn't even know until after it. Pretty cool. Hopefully, can inspire some future catchers, future switch hitters out there. Got to give credit to this guy right here. He's the one that made me both of them, catcher and a switch hitter.

Just super blessed and grateful for where I'm at. Just unbelievable experience.

Q. Cal, what's your first memory of playing ball with your dad?

CAL RALEIGH: Yeah, I mean, it goes all the way back to him coming home and me forcing him to throw me a ball and hit it in the backyard or in the house or something. Probably shouldn't be doing.

And then it goes back to his coaching days when he was coaching college, and straight after school, I went straight to the field. I'd hop in with the guys, hang out, do some drills sometimes, hit in the cage. Just be part of it and just be at the field all day and just playing baseball and hanging around with the guys. I'd say that was kind of where I fell in love with baseball.

Q. Todd, why in an age where almost no one switch hits have you pushed or taught, or did they become switch hitters?

TODD RALEIGH: Did it from the first day, when he was in diapers, literally. And I would take that big ball and he had a big red bat. I'd throw it slow and he'd hit it. Then I'd say stay there, pick him up, turn him around, switch his hands and do it again.

I was a catcher. I played a little bit, and I just knew what a premium it was. I didn't want either one of my boys to ever say, am I right-handed or left-handed? I wanted it to be from day one. So I put in the time. I don't recommend it if you have two kids, they're both switch hitters, if you want to save your arm, because that's a lot of throwing.

Just kidding. I just thought it would be a cool thing to do, and they both picked it up very early.

Q. Cal, congratulations. How does it feel to be in the same sentence as Ken Griffey, Jr.?

CAL RALEIGH: Pretty cool. He was there taking pictures. I know him. He's been around in Seattle. Getting to talk to him, get some advice, and now I get to share that title with him as Mariners to win a Derby. It's cool.

Q. Fans are calling you Big Dumper the Bumper. Are you okay with that?

CAL RALEIGH: Do I like it? I love it. I'll take anything I can get.

Q. Cal, I don't know if you were able to see that kid who robbed Caminero in the outfield. If you did, do you have any thoughts on that play?

CAL RALEIGH: Yeah, I paid him off. No, I didn't see it. I heard them talking about it. But, yeah, somebody's got to put a stop to that.

Q. James Wood said that if you won the Derby and the million dollars, he was going to go to Waffle House. Do you have any plans for the million dollars?

CAL RALEIGH: I love Waffle House. We grew up on it going to travel ball tournaments.

Q. Are you going there tonight?

CAL RALEIGH: I might. Getting hungry. All-Star special.

Q. What was it like seeing the fruits of your labor come together like this tonight, pitching to Cal and then, obviously, with T involved with it, as well, with all the toil you've put in in watching these guys develop in this way?

TODD RALEIGH: It's a dream come true. Anybody that's ever played baseball as a kid dreams of stuff like this. I dreamed of it. He dreamed of it. When you're a parent, you look at it differently because you want your kids to be happy.

I can't say how lucky and blessed I am. Everybody that plays baseball, every dad knows, I could have been that guy. Cal could have been that player. To do it as a family has been really special. I don't know why that we've been blessed like this. God is great, and I just, I can't put it in words.

This Derby was huge when we heard about it. When we involved the family, the complexion of it changed. It was all a family thing, and I thought, you know what? If he doesn't hit any home runs, we'll still be good.

Q. Cal, you knew stamina would be a factor tonight. How were you able to maintain it and get back into a groove when you switched to the right side?

CAL RALEIGH: I thought the first round was the hardest, honestly. Three minutes is a long time. Regardless, I talked to my dad, obviously, and my brother. I was like, I want to switch hit, you know. I thought it would be cool, regardless if I win or not. Obviously, lucky enough to make it to the next round. Grooving a little bit more lefty. Since we have a chance to win, might as well stick to the side that's working a little better.

But, yeah, the last two rounds, it was a little better. Getting to go first helped. I didn't really have to go sit down and get hot, sit down and get hot. I was able to stay hot after the first round, being one of the last ones to go, which was beneficial, I think.

Q. What did you think of Pat McAfee's very electric introduction of you?

CAL RALEIGH: I heard brief. I heard him say something about the butt. You guys probably heard it better. I didn't hear it. I was down in the thing. It was kind of muffled. So I'm sure I'll get to hear it later, which will be great.

Q. Cal did you realize how close the tiebreaker was between you and Brent Rooker, like an inch?

CAL RALEIGH: Yeah, it was like 0.1. 470-point -- my goodness gracious, that's close. I mean, like, it's just crazy. An inch off, and I'm not even in the final four, which is amazing. So I guess I got lucky there. One extra biscuit.

Q. Cal, today we had the realize that you are going to be with the U.S. team on the Baseball World Classic. How special is that for you? After this amazing, amazing season for you?

CAL RALEIGH: It's just an incredible honor. I think every kid who plays sports, that crosses everybody's mind because in every sport, there's a country that you get to represent. Growing up, watching Miracle, Rocky 4, you love the USA and you want to play for your country.

To get that opportunity is something you can't pass up and something I think is going to be amazing. Kind of similar to this. I get to be around some of the best players in the world. It's great for the game of baseball, too, for people tuning in. I know a couple years ago, it was awesome, just how much people were watching and invested in the games. It's going to be a lot of fun, and I'm really looking forward to it.

Q. Cal, just wondering if they were talking to you about the decision between you and Rooker? Did you know it was coming before they announced it?

CAL RALEIGH: It all happened so fast. They didn't -- they said there was a tiebreaker. Obviously, I knew because in the final round, I was talking to somebody. And they're like, you got to get two more to get to 17 to tie Rooker. Honestly, I forgot the rule. I didn't know if it was a swing-off or distance. Somebody told me, and I was like, that's insane. Like crazy.

Q. T, you had probably the best seat in the house tonight, just what was your reaction watching all of that and do you get to keep the merch?

TODD RALEIGH, JR.: That's the first thing they told me is I do get to keep it. And, yeah, I couldn't trade a different seat. It was amazing.

CAL RALEIGH: He got to meet Livvy Dunne today so he's pretty jacked up. He said that was the coolest part of his day. Hopefully this will get close. But he's a gear guy so he's going to be jacked up about all this.

Q. For Todd and the boys, are there any times at home where your wife, your mom says enough with the baseball, can we talk about something else?

TODD RALEIGH: Not too much. We kind of leave it in the cage. We've got a cage at home, a building. Or we leave it in the car on the rides home. There's probably been a few times where she says, yeah, that's enough. We did a lot of baseball growing up, a lot of talk. TV every night. I'd say there probably is, but baseball's a passion for us.

Q. For T, what have you learned about playing baseball that you attribute more to your dad or more to your brother?

TODD RALEIGH, JR.: He's always been such a leader. I've always been able to look up to him. Leading me, leading his teams, my dad being a coach. He's always helped me to be a leader on the baseball field and off.

Q. What have you picked up from Cal?

TODD RALEIGH, JR.: Cal, everything. His swag, the way he plays, the way he hustles.

Q. Cal, congratulations. Did you talk about with Andrés Muñoz about Mexico versus USA in the World Baseball Classic, this match?

CAL RALEIGH: I hope I don't get to face him. He's pretty nasty. Like I said, it will be a lot of fun. Obviously, great guy. One of my favorite teammates. Getting to compete against him in that environment will be really fun.

Obviously, a bunch of other guys on different teams will be fun, as well.

THE MODERATOR: Cal, congratulations. Todd, T, congratulations.

CAL RALEIGH: Thanks.