Cal Raleigh finally reached his 38th home run of the season — a milestone fans had been eagerly waiting for. It came during a dominant road win over the Tigers, and to make things even more memorable, a former NHL veteran happened to catch the ball — then did something completely unexpected with it.
That NHL veteran was Ryan Kesler, a 15-year pro who spent his career with the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks. Kesler, who grew up in Detroit, was in attendance at Comerica Park when Raleigh crushed the moonshot.
Raleigh’s home run put him in elite company — joining Barry Bonds as the only two players in MLB history to hit exactly 38 homers before the All-Star break. With time still left before the break, Raleigh could soon own that record all by himself.
So what did Kesler do with Raleigh’s home run ball?
In a move that stunned many, Kesler decided not to keep it. Instead, once the ball landed in his hands, he threw it back onto the field — a gesture typically made by opposing fans who catch a rival player’s homer. That ball, given its historic significance, could have had serious value in a future auction.
Raleigh now leads the league in home runs, holding a four-homer cushion over Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who currently sits at 34. Shohei Ohtani is third with 32.
Is this Raleigh’s best home run season yet?
No doubt. The 2025 campaign is already the best of his career in terms of home runs. Last season, he finished with 34, and he’s already surpassed that with games still to go. His steady growth is evident: 2 homers in 2021, 27 in 2022, 30 in 2023 — and now 38 and counting in 2025.
see also
Who has the most home runs in MLB history? Ranking baseball’s greatest sluggers
