Raleigh's oblique injury is healing well, and he is expected to begin his rehab assignment next Monday.

Cal Raleigh's minor league rehab stint is set to begin. The standout catcher for the Seattle Mariners is projected to suit up for High-A Everett on Monday, then shift to Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday to complete the remaining games that week. Tuesday is a day off in the minors. His status will then be reevaluated. Raleigh will act as the designated hitter in his initial rehab contest, with most subsequent appearances behind the plate.

“They’re being very cautious, just to make sure everything is right,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said before Thursday’s series finale, a 7-1 loss to the Mets. “So I think all signs point to good news. He’s making progress, getting better and better, and we’re on the right track.”

If all continues to go well, Raleigh could be activated from the injured list during the Mariners’ next homestand. This is the first time in his career he has been placed on the IL. That aligns with the timeline the team previously provided.

“He’s getting closer to returning, and I think that’s good news,” Wilson said. “For this type of injury, I think it’s important to stick to the plan and not push extra just because he feels good today. But his recovery pace is good, and everything seems to be in an ideal spot.”

Since returning from Arizona during last Sunday’s game, Raleigh has gradually resumed baseball activities. Before Wednesday’s win, he crouched behind home plate and made throws to every base, then performed sprint drills under close observation by the team’s trainers. He also caught Bryan Woo’s bullpen session on Monday. But the most telling sign was the increased intensity of his swings in the batting cage—the biggest hurdle in recovering from a right oblique strain, which landed him on the 10-day injured list on May 14. The injury first surfaced on May 1, forcing him to miss three games before he returned and played through it for nearly two weeks.

“In many ways, he looks a lot more relaxed,” Wilson said. “I think that’s a good thing… He’s used this time well to recover physically, and I think mentally he’s ready to get back on the field.”

During Raleigh’s absence, the Mariners went 12-6. The lineup contributed offensively across the board, while catchers Mitch Garver and Jhonny Pereda performed admirably. The duo posted a .763 OPS over 67 plate appearances, with Pereda hitting a key home run during Tuesday’s extra-inning win. Meanwhile, Raleigh had struggled at the plate early in the season, slashing just .161/.243/.317. The Mariners hope the pain relief and mental reset from his IL stint will help him regain elite production.

In other injury news, first baseman Josh Naylor returned to the starting lineup less than 48 hours after leaving a game with back spasms caused by a home run swing. He was replaced on Wednesday by Patrick Wisdom, who hit his first home run as a Mariner.