Mariners’ Cal Raleigh Named Cover Athlete for New Mobile Baseball Game
As spring training approaches, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has received another honor: he’s been selected as the cover athlete for “Baseball Hits 26,” a new mobile baseball video game developed by Ares Interactive. The game is currently available for pre-download and is expected to launch on March 17th.
“Having the opportunity to partner with Ares Interactive as the cover athlete for Baseball Hits 26 is a highlight,” Raleigh said in a press release. “The game is going to be perfect for road trips when I’ve got some downtime and just want to have a little fun.”
“Baseball Hits 26 is a partnership MLB Players, Inc. Is excited to be part of,” added Evan Kaplan, President of MLB Players, Inc. “This new game will be a great option for fans looking for quick-play virtual baseball action. The veteran developers at 7th Inning Studio are just the team to deliver an authentic experience.”
The free-to-play game features one-touch controls and aims to provide a realistic nine-inning baseball experience. According to the App Store description, “Every pitch, hit and home run feels authentic thanks to lifelike motion-capture animation, realistic baseball physics and stats based on all the real-life players.”
Raleigh’s selection as the cover athlete comes after a remarkable 2025 season where he led the league with 60 home runs, setting new records for both a catcher and a Mariners player. He finished second in the American League MVP race. This makes him the second current Mariners player to appear on the cover of a mobile baseball video game, following Julio Rodríguez, who was featured on EA Sports MLB Tap Sports Baseball 2023.
“Baseball Hits 26” is being developed by 7th Inning, a new studio founded by Ares Interactive that includes former developers of the MLB Tap Sports franchise. Gamers will be able to collect cards of their favorite MLB players and build custom rosters. The game also includes clubs where players can connect, chat, and compete against each other live.
Raleigh and the Mariners begin their spring training schedule on February 20th against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. The regular season is set to begin on March 26th with a home game against the Cleveland Guardians at T-Mobile Park.
The Mariners are looking to build on their successful 2025 season, where they won the AL West for the first time since 2001 and came within one game of reaching the World Series.
