Nine MLB Hitters Hit the IL With Fractured Hamate Bones, and Cal Raleigh Joining the Injured List Is Crushing.

What. A. Weekend. Seriously, M's fans, if you thought things couldn't get more frustrating after that brutal 10-1 shellacking by the Washington Nationals, then buckle up. Because the biggest gut punch just landed. We're talking about a rash of fractured hamate bones sweeping across MLB, an injury that's already taken out eight hitters and then another, making it nine total on the IL in just a short time. And guess whose name is on that growing list of "big names" to hit the shelf? Our guy, Cal Raleigh. Losing our Big Dumper right when the season is heating up? This is absolutely crushing for the Emerald City.

The Injury Bug Is Hitting Us Hard, Right When We Can Least Afford It

You know, injuries are part of the game, but this feels different. We're only in the regular season, and the league has already seen nine players go on the Injured List with fractured hamate bones. To put that in perspective, there were only 10 *combined* in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Jose Ramirez, a superstar, just became the eighth MLB hitter to suffer a fractured hamate bone on Saturday, and Vinnie Pasquantino became the ninth on Sunday. He's in good company, or rather, *bad* company, with Elly De La Cruz, Aaron Judge, and Ronald Acuna also sidelined recently. But for us, the real sting comes from seeing Cal Raleigh's name in that same sentence, among those "other big names" like Roman Anthony and Munetaka Murakami, who've also hit the shelf. This isn't just about fantasy baseball teams, this is about our actual Mariners squad. Who steps up now? How do you replace that power and leadership behind the plate? Ramirez himself is looking at four weeks out, potentially double that, so we know this isn't a quick recovery for anyone.

That Nationals Loss Stings, But There's Still Hope on the Horizon

And speaking of needing someone to step up, that 10-1 loss to the Nationals? Oof. After a weekend like that, it's easy to feel like the sky is falling. Yes, losing a game like that is tough, especially when you only push across a single run. The M's offense has to find a way to consistently produce. But even in these tough times, there are things to cling to. For example, did you see our own Colt Emerson popping up on the radar as a top waiver target for third base and shortstop in the league? That's a Mariner name making waves, someone who could be a significant piece for us down the line. It's not a direct fix for Cal, but it shows we've got talent coming up. And here's something else: our pitching staff is still throwing gas. The Orioles and Red Sox are listed among the worst hitting matchups this week, specifically against us for three games each! That tells you our arms are still legit. We need to lean on that pitching, find some offense, and get through this injury storm. This team, our Mariners, they're facing an uphill battle right now with injuries piling up and that rough loss still fresh. But it's regular season, and we know this squad has grit. We'll be watching every pitch. It's time for the next man up to prove himself, and for the Emerald City faithful to show why we're the best fans in baseball. Let's go M's!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.