Logan Gilbert's Final Spring Start Just Got Real: Cal Raleigh Made It Count
Spring training chaos is the name of the game in late March, and the Mariners are dealing with all of it. Low 100s heat in Arizona, guys missing time for the World Baseball Classic, and a schedule that keeps shifting. But there's something beautiful happening between Logan Gilbert and Cal Raleigh that has the opening day battery locked in and ready to roll.
The B Game Nobody Expected
Gilbert was supposed to make his final spring start against the Guardians on Friday night, the same team Seattle opens against. But the Mariners didn't want to risk their starters against a regular season opponent, so they flipped it to a B game at 11 a.m. against the Padres on Field 1 in Peoria. Standard stuff, right? Except Raleigh showed up to catch, and that wasn't the original plan.
"I wasn't positive with it being 11 a.m. and we had a night game last night," Raleigh said. "I wasn't expecting him necessarily to be here, but he was, which is way better so we can get a feel." Raleigh had asked to DH the night before against the A's in Mesa to work on at-bats he'd missed while away at the WBC. But catching Gilbert one more time before opening day? That was worth the early morning.
Building Chemistry Right Before It Matters
Gilbert threw 80 pitches and left the PitchCom device on the sideline. Instead, he worked on something he's been tinkering with for years: the sinker. Here's where it gets interesting. Raleigh used to hate the sinker. He had every reason to shake it off. But on Friday, he was calling for it, and Gilbert was the one shaking it off.
"I threw four or five and he called seven or eight. I was the one shaking them off," Gilbert said with a laugh. "So, roles reversed after 10 years. So he likes the sinker, which he's hated for years."
Gilbert has reworked the grip and spiking on the pitch. Whether it becomes a regular season weapon or stays a "side project" is still up in the air, but the willingness to experiment matters. The two have been together since being drafted in 2018, and that continuity shows.
The Openness That Wins Seasons
The curveball is solid. The cutter is sharp. Even the changeup got some run, though that's not happening in games. "He's always been out on everything and then today, he was very open minded today," Gilbert said. "He loves to be prepared as much as anybody. That's the main thing and it resonates with me. That's kind of who I am and I love seeing him that way."
This is how championship batteries get built. Two guys who've grown up together, willing to adjust and trust each other when it counts most. Opening day is almost here.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.