Getting to the bottom of how the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh got the nickname ‘Big Dumper’

PEORIA, Ariz. — On the morning of July 11, 2021, a tweet from the Seattle Mariners brought exciting news: catcher Cal Raleigh, one of the organization’s top young talents, was getting called up to the major leagues for the very first time.

It was a moment that fans had eagerly anticipated since Raleigh was selected in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Florida State University. His arrival in Seattle was celebrated across social media, as supporters hoped to see this promising prospect make an impact at the highest level.

But to understand the origin of the now-famous nickname “Big Dumper,” you have to rewind to the unusual baseball summer of 2020. With the minor league season canceled due to the pandemic, Seattle’s most promising prospects spent that summer training at the club’s alternate site at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma. It was during this time that outfielder Jarred Kelenic — never one to mince words — famously coined the nickname while describing Raleigh’s rather noticeable physical feature.

Or perhaps, as Kelenic humorously insists, the name didn’t begin in 2020.

“Big Dumper started the day he was born. I mean, it’s obvious,” Kelenic quipped, poking fun at his teammate with the kind of blunt humor that characterizes their relationship.

Logan Gilbert, a Mariners pitcher and close friend of Raleigh, added with a grin, “Jarred isn’t exactly someone who sugarcoats things.”

Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 235 pounds, Raleigh wears pants with a 37-inch waist and a 45-inch hip measurement — stats that support the nickname’s origin. At first, Raleigh wasn’t thrilled about the moniker. But after Kelenic posted it online for all to see, things took an amusing turn — both on and off the field.

“That’s when it really started to spread,” Raleigh recalled. “It kind of faded for a bit, but then picked up again last season. I guess people thought it was hilarious.”

The reality is, Raleigh’s pronounced lower half had been a topic of locker room banter long before he joined the Mariners.

“If we go all the way back, people have always joked that I have a big butt,” Raleigh said. “It was never something I paid attention to. But even in college, and during my time in the minors, it was something people noticed.”

Hank Truluck, a former Florida State teammate, wasn’t at all shocked to hear the nickname make its way into professional baseball. In fact, he embraced it.

“I thought it was perfect the first time I heard it,” Truluck said. “He’s got something going on back there. We’d joke all the time, like, ‘Man, how did you even get into those jeans this morning?’”

Gilbert, who came up through the Mariners system alongside Raleigh, admired the way his friend came to accept the nickname and the attention it brought.

“He was a bit hesitant about it early on,” Gilbert said. “But eventually it grew on him. It’s sort of become a term of endearment. The fans love it, and they love him.”

The turning point, according to Gilbert, might have been when Raleigh first saw fan-made jerseys with “Big Dumper” stitched across the back.

“When he saw that, I think he really embraced it and made it part of who he is.”

Fast-forward to October of the following year. The Mariners had just defeated the Blue Jays to win their American League Wild Card series. Raleigh stood on the field with his teammates and family, celebrating the victory, a beer in hand. A crowd of fans remained in the stadium, cheering wildly. Among their chants? A unified, enthusiastic cry of “Big Dumper!”

Raleigh smiled, acknowledging them with a laugh. He had fully accepted the nickname. He had become the Big Dumper.

“I think it’s awesome,” Raleigh said, grinning. “My mom might feel differently, but it’s fun. It gives the fans something to connect with, and that’s what this is all about — having a good time, bringing people together.”

His attitude toward the name shows his comfort with being in the spotlight — even if it’s for something as unusual as a nickname.

“You just have to roll with it,” he said. “As long as it brings positive energy and people are having fun, that’s what matters.”

In the rich tradition of quirky baseball nicknames, “Big Dumper” now joins an elite and colorful lineup. Think about it: Splendid Splinter. Oil Can Boyd. Three Finger Brown. And now, Big Dumper. Where does it rank? That’s up to the fans — but it certainly holds its own.

Gilbert put it best: “At this point, there’s no turning back.”

As for Kelenic, he’s nothing but proud of his friend’s journey — not just as a player, but as someone who’s worked hard to earn his place in the majors.

Last season, Raleigh joined an elite group: he became only the third catcher in MLB history, age 25 or younger, to hit 25 or more home runs, record an OPS+ of at least 120, and post a defensive WAR above 1.0 — joining legends Johnny Bench and Mike Piazza.

Perhaps the highlight of his young career came in September, when Raleigh smashed a walk-off home run against the Oakland A’s. That moment secured the Mariners’ first playoff berth in 21 years and instantly entered the history books.

“Cal puts in a ton of work,” Kelenic said. “He’s not someone who talks a lot — he’s more the quiet type — but you’ve got to respect his work ethic.”

Being a catcher at the major-league level is one of the toughest jobs in the sport, and Kelenic believes Raleigh deserves more recognition for the effort he puts in every day.

“People don’t really see how hard it is,” he continued. “He doesn’t get enough credit for that. He’s one of the best out there.”

And despite the focus on his now-famous nickname, Kelenic knows there’s more to Raleigh than meets the eye — though he couldn’t resist one last joke.

“I mean, come on — anyone who sees a butt like that, the first thing they’re gonna think is Big Dumper,” Kelenic said, laughing.

Cal Raleigh may have once been unsure about the nickname that followed him from college locker rooms to the big leagues, but today he wears it like a badge of honor. It’s become a symbol of the player he is — confident, unbothered, and a fan favorite — one swing, and one laugh, at a time.