Cal Raleigh: Girlfriend Hannah| Is married| Wife| Draft pick| DRS

Introduction

Caleb John Raleigh, widely known as Cal Raleigh, has become one of Major League Baseball’s most exciting players in recent seasons. As a power-hitting catcher and switch-hitter, he has drawn attention not just for his on-field feats, but also for his personal life. In this article, we’ll dive deep into Cal Raleigh’s background: Who is his girlfriend? Is he married? What’s the truth about a “wife”? Where was he drafted? And what do advanced metrics like DRS say about him?

Early Life & Baseball Origins

Before addressing personal life, it helps to understand his baseball journey.

• Cal Raleigh was born on November 26, 1996, in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

• He grew up in a baseball-oriented family. His father, Todd Raleigh, was a collegiate baseball coach, including stints at Western Carolina University and the University of Tennessee.

• Cal’s upbringing involved early exposure to the game: he would ride on team buses with his father’s teams and pick up insights about lineups, defensive alignments, and baseball strategy. (Often noted in profiles of Raleigh’s development.)

Draft & Minor League Career

One major point in Raleigh’s professional journey is his draft status:

• Raleigh was selected in the third round (90th overall pick) of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners.

• He signed with the Mariners, receiving a signing bonus of approximately US$854,000.

• His journey through the minor leagues included stops in Low-A, High-A, and Double-A levels before making his way toward the big leagues.

• The 2020 minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting his opportunity to play that year.

He finally made his MLB debut on July 11, 2021, with the Seattle Mariners.

Cal Raleigh’s Performance & Advanced Metrics (DRS and More)

To understand Raleigh’s value, traditional stats are useful, but advanced metrics like Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and others help paint a clearer picture.

What is DRS?

DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) is a defensive metric that estimates how many runs a defender has saved (or cost) his team relative to the average fielder at the same position. A positive DRS is better; the higher, the more valuable the defensive contributions.

Raleigh’s Defensive Value & DRS

While publicly available metrics for catchers are less frequently reported in mainstream coverage than for infielders or outfielders, Raleigh has gained a reputation for strong defensive skills:

• In 2024, he won both the Gold Glove and Platinum Glove awards, highlighting his elite defensive value.

• The Platinum Glove is awarded to the top overall defender, an indication of how well he’s regarded beyond just catching.

• Analysts have also praised him as a pitch framer and game-calling presence behind the plate, which are aspects not fully captured by DRS but are critical to a catcher’s defensive contributions.

• As of 2025, his performance has continued to wow fans and analysts alike, with home run totals and defensive metrics both making headlines.

Though precise publicly reported DRS figures for Raleigh may not always be cited in popular articles, his defensive awards and praise suggest that his defensive metrics (including DRS or related advanced stats) place him among the better catchers in MLB.

Offensive Production & Milestones

It’s not just his glove that draws attention:

• Raleigh is a switch-hitter, meaning he can bat left-handed or right-handed depending on the pitcher.

• In his career, he has accumulated significant home run totals.

• In the 2025 season, he’s broken records such as being the most home runs by a catcher in a single MLB season, and also the most by a switch-hitter in a season.

• He signed a 6-year extension with the Mariners reportedly worth $105 million in March 2025.

• One notable highlight: in the 2025 Home Run Derby, his father Todd Raleigh pitched to him during the event, an emotional moment underscoring his family roots in baseball.

These combined defensive and offensive elements make Raleigh one of the rare catchers to excel on both sides of the game, pushing his overall value even higher.

Relationship Profile: Girlfriend Hannah

One of the most asked questions is: Who is Cal Raleigh’s girlfriend, Hannah?

Hannah Shimek: Background & Profile

• Cal Raleigh’s reported girlfriend is Hannah Shimek.

• Hannah is a former softball star, having played in high school and college.

• In high school (Inglemoor High School, Kenmore, Washington), she was a multisport athlete (softball, basketball) and set a school record for career batting average at .461.

• In her senior year, she batted .536, led in runs, RBIs, and triples, earning All-KingCo first-team honors in multiple positions (shortstop, center field, second base).

• She attended Southern Oregon University, where she continued her standout play in softball.

• Her statistical contributions include a batting average of .359 in playoffs, a lengthy hitting streak, stolen base streaks, and high rankings in her college’s all-time lists for hits, RBIs, and runs.

Professional & Personal Life

• Professionally, Hannah has worked in sales and marketing roles.

• She is also involved in coaching and training — for example, she works as a hitting instructor at BASE BY PROS in Lynnwood, where she helps train younger players.

• On social media, Hannah is active on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

• Hannah and Cal made their relationship more public starting around 2023.

• The couple has made appearances together at notable events like the Mariners Care Foundation Summer Soirée, the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards in New York City, and MLB All-Star events.

• When Cal hit his 55th home run in a historic game (surpassing Mickey Mantle’s record for most HR in a season by a switch-hitter), Hannah posted a graphic with the phrase “Go Buddy go.”

• She later added “Catch me if you can” after Cal hit another home run.

Timeline & Status of Their Relationship

• As per available sources, Hannah and Cal began dating in 2023.

• Their relationship has been publicly visible in baseball circles since then.

• There is no confirmed evidence that they are married as of now (2025). Many profiles refer to Hannah as his girlfriend; rumors of a “wife” appear unsubstantiated.

• One questionable source claims they are married, but that lacks verification and appears to be incorrect.

So, from publicly available, credible information, Cal and Hannah are in a committed relationship but not married (yet), and Hannah is not his wife in any official or public record.

Married? Wife? Rumors & Clarifications

Given fan curiosity, let’s address directly: Is Cal Raleigh married? Does he have a wife?

No Reliable Confirmation of Marriage

• As of 2025, no trustworthy media outlets or official sources (such as statements from Cal, Hannah, or the Mariners) have confirmed that Cal is married or that Hannah is his wife.

• Reputable profiles and reporting refer to Hannah as his girlfriend, not spouse.

• Some less credible or speculative pages might claim he’s married, but these are not backed by evidence. For example, one page titled “Cal Raleigh Married Life” asserts he is married, but it cites no verifiable source.

Why the Confusion?

• Public figures often attract speculation about their personal life, especially when dating high-profile individuals.

• Fans or media sometimes mislabel long-term partners as spouses prematurely.

• Without a formal announcement (e.g. engagement, wedding) or documentation, marriage claims remain rumors.

Thus, for now, it’s safest to say: Cal Raleigh is not publicly known to be married and Hannah is his girlfriend, not his wife—unless future announcements change that status.

Combining Personal and Professional: Why Fans Care

Why do people care so much about the personal life of a star athlete like Cal Raleigh? Here are a few reasons:

1. Human Interest
   Athletes are admired not just for statistics but for who they are off the field. Fans want to connect with their lives, passions, relationships.

2. Role Model Element
   For younger fans, seeing how high-performing athletes manage relationships, family, public attention, and mental health is inspiring or instructive.

3. Media & Branding
   In today’s age, public persona, sponsorships, and social media interplay deeply with athletic performance. A well-liked partner or companion can enhance a player’s brand and fan engagement.

4. Emotional Moments & Storylines
   Moments like a father pitching in the Home Run Derby or a crowd cheering as a player breaks a record create narratives that go beyond numbers.

Summary & Key Facts at a Glance

Here’s a compact summary of the major points about Cal Raleigh and his personal life:

Potential Updates & Looking Ahead

Because personal lives evolve, some caveats:

• If Cal Raleigh and Hannah ever officially announce an engagement, civil partnership, or marriage, that would change the public record.

• Advanced metrics over time (future seasons) will refine our understanding of his defensive contributions (DRS, framing metrics, etc.).

• As his career continues, both his on-field milestones and off-field milieu (personal relationships, endorsements, media presence) will likely evolve in tandem.