Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Luke Raley

Luke Raley (born Lucas John Raley; September 19, 1994) is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman for the Seattle Mariners of (MLB). Standing at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and weighing 235 pounds (107 kg), he bats left-handed and throws right-handed. Raley was selected by the in the seventh round, 221st overall, of the 2016 MLB Draft out of , where he had a standout college career, hitting .379 with 25 home runs over three seasons and earning induction into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023. He made his MLB debut with the Dodgers on April 9, 2021, after progressing through their minor league system. Raley's professional career has involved several team changes that shaped his path to regular playing time. Following his draft, he spent time in the Dodgers' farm system before being traded to the on July 31, 2018, as part of the deal sending second baseman to , along with and . He was traded back to the Dodgers on February 10, 2020, along with prospect , as part of the four-team deal acquiring , in exchange for and a 2020 competitive balance round B draft pick. After an MLB stint with the Dodgers in , where he appeared in 33 games, Raley was traded to the on March 18, 2022, for minor league Tanner Dodson. With the Rays, Raley established himself as a power-hitting corner , posting a breakout 2023 season in which he played 118 games, batted .249, hit 19 home runs, drove in 49 runs, and recorded a 2.7 (). On January 5, 2024, during his honeymoon, he was traded to the Mariners in exchange for José Caballero, marking his third MLB organization. In his first full season with Seattle in 2024, Raley appeared in 137 games, slashing .243/.304/.451 with 22 home runs, 58 RBIs, and a career-high 3.2 , contributing significantly to the Mariners' lineup with his combination of power and speed (11 stolen bases). As of the 2025 season, Raley remains a key versatile contributor for the Mariners, having played 73 games with a .202 , 4 home runs, and 19 RBIs in the 2025 season. Throughout his MLB career to date, spanning 365 games, he has compiled a .232 , 48 home runs, 134 RBIs, and 27 stolen bases.

Early life and amateur career

Early life

Luke Raley was born on September 19, 1994, in , . He grew up in Hinckley Township alongside his family, which included his parents, Doug and Beth Raley, and his older brother, Brad. Raley's father, Doug, owned and operated Raley's Tree Farms in Hinckley Township, while his mother, Beth, worked as an analyst for First Energy. His brother Brad also pursued during his youth and later joined their father in managing the family business. Baseball held a prominent place in the Raley family from an early age, with having played the sport at and . This familial involvement fostered Raley's initial interest in the game, shaping his upbringing in the close-knit community of Hinckley Township.

High school career

Luke Raley attended in , where he played for the Highland Hornets as a multi-position , primarily serving as a left-handed hitting and corner with notable power and speed. As a standout in the local community, Raley developed foundational skills in play and hitting during his tenure, earning recognition as team captain and contributing to the team's success in the Suburban League. During his sophomore year in 2011, Raley batted .404, helping build the Hornets' momentum. In 2012, as a junior, he hit .474 with 37 RBIs, playing a key role in the team's Suburban League championship—their first since 1989. His senior season in 2013 was particularly dominant, as he posted a .568 , .650 , eight home runs, 12 doubles, seven triples, 50 RBIs, 40 runs, and 26 stolen bases over 30 games, leading the Hornets to a 21-9 record. Over his three-year varsity career, Raley maintained a .494 with 122 hits, 103 RBIs, 84 runs, and 30 doubles. Raley's performance earned him selection to the 2013 All-Ohio Baseball Team by the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association, as well as a spot on the USA Today All-USA Ohio Baseball Team as an outfielder. He ranked in the top 40 nationally in slugging percentage (1.094) that year and was later named to the Medina Gazette's All-Decade Team for 2010-2019, highlighting his status as one of the top hitters in Medina County history. Raley graduated from Highland High School in 2013.

College career

Raley enrolled at Lake Erie College, a Division II institution in Painesville, Ohio, where he played college baseball for the Storm from 2014 to 2016 while majoring in special education. As a freshman in 2014, Raley batted .353 with seven home runs and earned Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Freshman of the Year and First Team All-GLIAC honors. In his sophomore season of 2015, he hit .351 with four home runs, continuing to develop as a power-hitting outfielder. Raley's junior year in 2016 marked his breakout performance, where he achieved a .424 , .528 , .747 , and 12 home runs—setting school records for and home runs in a season—while driving in 40 runs. For these accomplishments, he received third-team honors, All-Region recognition, First Team All-GLIAC, the GLIAC Commissioner's Award, and a nomination for the ABCA/Rawlings at Division II. Over his three-year career, Raley batted .379 with 25 home runs and 101 RBIs, holding 14 school records and establishing himself as one of the top players in Division II . In 2023, he was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame, and his jersey number 20 was retired.

Professional career

Los Angeles Dodgers (first stint)

Raley was selected by the in the seventh round, 221st overall, of the out of . He signed with the organization for a $147,500 bonus, below the slot value of $187,400 for that pick. Following the signing, Raley began his professional career in the Arizona League Dodgers, where he appeared in five games and batted .625 with 10 hits in 16 at-bats. He was quickly promoted to the Rookie-level Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League on June 27, 2016, marking his transition to full-season play. In 2017, Raley advanced to High-A of the , where he had an impressive campaign, hitting .295 with 14 home runs, 21 doubles, and 62 RBIs over 123 games, earning him a spot as a All-Star. Raley opened the 2018 season at Double-A with the of the , where he batted .275 with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs in 93 games, earning him a selection as a Mid-Season All-Star, before his time with the organization ended. On July 31, 2018, as part of the trade deadline deal sending Brian Dozier to the Dodgers, Raley was traded to the along with infielder Logan Forsythe and pitcher .

Minnesota Twins

Raley was acquired by the on July 31, 2018, as part of the trade deadline deal that sent second baseman to the ; in return, the Twins received , outfielder Luke Raley, and left-handed pitcher . Following the trade, Raley, who had spent the first half of the season at Double-A with the Dodgers' , reported to the Twins' Double-A affiliate, the , for the remainder of 2018. In 27 games with Chattanooga, he posted a .276 with 3 home runs and 16 RBIs, contributing to a strong overall Double-A campaign across both organizations where he hit .275 with 20 home runs in 120 games. In 2019, Raley advanced within the Twins' system, beginning the season at Double-A Pensacola before a promotion to Triple-A . His time at was limited to 33 games due to an ankle injury that required surgery, sidelining him for much of the year; however, in those games, he batted .302 with a .362 , .516 , seven home runs, and 21 RBIs, showcasing his power potential at the higher level. Raley's prior development in the Dodgers , where he was originally selected in the seventh round of the 2016 MLB Draft, had established him as a promising corner /first with left-handed power, enhancing his trade value within the Twins' farm system. The onset of the led to the cancellation of the 2020 season on , severely impacting Raley's development and limiting his playing time to instructional leagues and team workouts. On , 2020—prior to the season's disruption—Raley was traded back to the as part of the package that sent starting pitcher to the Twins; the deal also involved right-handed pitching prospect and the Twins' 67th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.

Los Angeles Dodgers (second stint)

Raley rejoined the on February 10, 2020, when the traded him back to the organization in exchange for pitcher , marking an emotional return to the team that originally drafted him in 2016. He was added to the Dodgers' 40-man roster shortly thereafter, but the 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the , and Raley did not appear in any games that year despite being part of the expanded playoff roster during the shortened season. Raley made his Major League debut on April 9, 2021, against the , entering as a defensive replacement in right field. Over the course of the season, he appeared in 33 games for the Dodgers, primarily in roles, batting .182 with 2 home runs and 4 in 66 at-bats. His limited playing time came in multiple stints with the active roster, often as a late-season call-up. In addition to his Major League exposure, Raley spent significant time in the minors during 2020 and 2021, though 2020 offered no games due to the . In 2021, he played 72 games for Triple-A , where he hit 19 home runs and drove in 69 runs while posting a .294 . These performances highlighted his power potential in the upper levels of the farm system. On March 18, 2022, the Dodgers traded Raley to the in exchange for minor league pitcher Tanner Dodson, clearing space on the 40-man roster ahead of the season.

Tampa Bay Rays

Raley was acquired by the from the on March 18, 2022, in exchange for minor league pitcher Tanner Dodson. He began the season in Triple-A with the , where he adjusted to the Rays' system by focusing on plate discipline and power development, batting .300 with a .401 , .529 , 14 home runs, and 50 in 63 games. Raley made his first major league appearance with the Rays on June 21, 2022, and appeared in 22 games across two stints, primarily in the outfield, hitting .197 with one home run and four RBI. His versatility allowed him to play both left and right field effectively during limited opportunities. In 2023, Raley earned a spot on the Opening Day roster and enjoyed his first full major league season, establishing himself as a regular contributor with a .249 batting average, 19 home runs, and 49 RBI over 118 games. This breakout performance highlighted his growth into a power-hitting outfielder for the Rays' lineup. On January 5, 2024, Raley was traded to the in exchange for infielder José Caballero.

Seattle Mariners

On January 5, 2024, the acquired Raley from the in exchange for infielder José Caballero, adding left-handed power and positional flexibility to their lineup. In his debut season with the team, Raley appeared in 137 games, batting .243 with 22 home runs—a personal career high—58 runs batted in, and 11 stolen bases, while splitting time between first base and the outfield. His power output, building on breakout performances from his Rays tenure, provided a consistent threat against right-handed pitching and contributed to the Mariners' offensive depth. Raley's 2025 campaign was hampered by multiple injuries, limiting him to 73 games where he hit .202 with 4 home runs and 19 RBI. He suffered a right oblique strain during batting practice on April 30 and was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to April 28, missing nearly seven weeks before returning on June 20 following a rehab assignment. Later, back spasms sidelined him again starting July 30 (retroactive to July 27), with activation from the injured list occurring on August 15 after a brief minor-league stint. On September 4, Raley exited a game against the Rays due to side tightness but avoided further time on the disabled list and resumed playing shortly thereafter. During his time with the Mariners, Raley achieved key personal milestones, including surpassing his previous total in 2024 and demonstrating versatility across corner infield and positions, drawing comparisons to left-handed power hitters like for his pull-side production in . As of November 2025, Raley remains under contract with the Mariners heading into the 2026 season, with no reported trade activity.

Personal life

Marriage

Luke Raley met Mihalik through in the spring of 2020, during the that had shut down and prompted increased online interactions. The couple's relationship progressed steadily, leading to Raley's proposal on October 29, 2022, and their wedding on December 29, 2023, in Cleveland, Ohio. Mihalik, an native, had a standout volleyball career at from 2014 to 2017, where she played as an outside hitter and earned recognition as Lorain County's 2014 Miss Volleyball during her high school senior year at Avon Lake High School. Now a second-grade teacher in , Mihalik has provided steadfast support throughout Raley's professional transitions, including accompanying him during family visits amid his MLB career moves and joining him on a getaway shortly after their marriage, where he learned of his trade to the Mariners.

Family

Raley and his wife, Katie Mihalik, whom he married on December 29, 2023, welcomed their first child, daughter Reagan, on February 25, 2025, in . Raley was scratched from a Mariners spring training game against the that day to be present for the birth. He returned to the lineup on March 1, 2025, after a brief absence of a few days that minimally affected his preparation for the season. As of November 2025, Reagan remains their only child. Raley maintains strong connections to his extended family in , including his parents, Doug and Beth Raley, and his older brother, . His family frequently attends Mariners games in the area to support him. For instance, in June 2024, organized by his mother , around 100 relatives and friends gathered in the left-field bleachers during a game against the , offering enthusiastic cheers each time Raley took the field. These visits highlight the ongoing role of his roots in his professional life.

References

  1. [1]
    Luke Raley Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News
    Luke Raley Bio ; Fullname: Lucas John Raley ; Born: 9/19/1994 in Hinckley, OH ; Draft: 2016, Los Angeles Dodgers, Round: 7, Overall Pick: 221 ; College: Lake Erie ...
  2. [2]
    Luke Raley Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More
    Luke Raley ; Positions: Outfielder and First Baseman ; Bats: Left • Throws: Right ; Team: Seattle Mariners (majors) ; Born: September 19, 1994 in Hinckley, OH us.
  3. [3]
    Luke Raley (2023) - Lake Erie College Athletics Hall of Fame
    After an impressive three-year career in which he hit .379, recorded 25 home runs and drove in 101 runs, he became the second Storm baseball player to be ...
  4. [4]
    Twins acquire Forsythe, Raley and Smeltzer in exchange for Brian ...
    Jul 31, 2018 · The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have acquired second baseman Logan Forsythe, minor league outfielder Luke Raley, and minor league ...
  5. [5]
    Luke Raley Stats & Scouting Report - Baseball America
    Raley, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound outfielder, was one of the top players in Division II this year, hitting .424/.528/.747 this year. Top Rankings ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  6. [6]
    Rays Acquire Luke Raley From Dodgers - MLB Trade Rumors
    Mar 18, 2022 · The Rays and Dodgers agreed to a deal this afternoon, announcing that corner outfielder Luke Raley has been traded to Tampa Bay.
  7. [7]
    Rays acquire outfielder Raley from Dodgers - MLB.com
    Mar 19, 2022 · The Rays added to their Major League-ready outfield depth on Friday afternoon, swinging a trade with the Dodgers to acquire outfielder Luke Raley.
  8. [8]
    Luke Raley traded to Mariners during his honeymoon - MLB.com
    Jan 9, 2024 · Raley quickly called his agent, who informed the outfielder that he had been traded from Tampa Bay to Seattle in exchange for infielder José ...
  9. [9]
    Mariners Acquire OF/1B Luke Raley from Rays
    Jan 5, 2024 · The Mariners have acquired outfielder/first baseman Luke Raley from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for infielder José Caballero.
  10. [10]
    Luke Raley - BR Bullpen - Baseball-Reference.com
    On July 31st, he was sent to the Minnesota Twins as part of the deal in which the Dodgers and Twins exchanged second basemen, with Brian Dozier going to L.A. ...
  11. [11]
    Even under the bright lights of MLB, Luke Raley hasn't forgotten his ...
    Jun 6, 2023 · The 28-year-old Raley has remained the same hard-working, polite, humble kid who grew up in Hinckley Township and graduated from Highland High School in 2013.
  12. [12]
    Highland grad Luke Raley is home for the weekend with Rays
    Aug 31, 2023 · Brad is Raley's older brother and former baseball ... He now works with their father Doug at Raley's Tree Farms in Hinckley Township.Missing: parents | Show results with:parents
  13. [13]
    So far so good for Hinckley outfielder climbing the ladder in minor ...
    Oct 1, 2018 · Luke's father, Douglas, played at Cuyahoga Community College and Cleveland State. Luke graduated from Highland High School and attended ...Missing: parents | Show results with:parents
  14. [14]
    All-decade teams: Luke Raley raked for Highland | Medina Gazette
    Jun 9, 2020 · Raley is a career .288 minor league hitter, proving his video game numbers at Division II Lake Erie College were legitimate after spurning D-I ...
  15. [15]
    Luke Raley's Highland High School Career Home - Max Preps
    Luke is ranked in the top 40 Nationally for 1 stat, top 1 in Ohio for 2 stats, and top 1 in Division I for 5 stats. 40th. In the Nation. 1.094. Slugging ...
  16. [16]
    [PDF] 2013 division i all-ohio poll team - OHSAA
    Luke. Raley. Medina Highland. NE. Colton. Carney. Brecksville-Broadview Hts. NE. Jacob. Niggemeyer. Olentangy Liberty. C. Ben. Myers. Grove City. C. Ryan.Missing: State | Show results with:State
  17. [17]
    All-Ohio Baseball Teams - Morning Journal
    Jun 4, 2013 · Thompson (Cin. Mason), Sean Kennedy (Spingboro), Isaac Perry (Norwalk), Mitch Longo (Mayfield), Luke Raley (Medina Highland), Jacob Niggemeyer ...
  18. [18]
    2013 ALL-USA Ohio Baseball Team
    474 with three homer runs 29 RBI and 37 runs. Luke Raley. Highlands, senior. Outfield. Batted .568 with 50 RBI, eight home runs, 40 runs and 26 stolen bases ...
  19. [19]
    Dodgers outfield prospect Luke Raley moving on up | Think Blue LA
    Apr 1, 2017 · Following his graduation, he majored in Special Education at Lake Eric College and gained national prominence with a monster junior year in ...Missing: Erie | Show results with:Erie
  20. [20]
    Lucas Raley - 2016 - Baseball - Lake Erie College
    Hometown Hinckley, Ohio. High School Medina Highland. Bio; Related; Stats ... Surburban League, All-Gazzette and Medina Post Honorable Mention selection in 2011…
  21. [21]
    Luke Raley Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics
    Lake Erie College (Painesville, OH) · Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits ... Baseball Hall of Fame, MLB MVP's, MLB Cy Young Award, MLB Rookie of the ...
  22. [22]
    Luke Raley Player Card | Baseball Prospectus
    2022-03-18 : Los Angeles Dodgers traded LF Luke Raley to Tampa Bay Rays for RHP Tanner Dodson. 2021-10-06 : Los Angeles Dodgers recalled LF Luke Raley from ...
  23. [23]
    Luke Raley | MLB Contracts & Salaries - Spotrac.com
    Drafted: Round 7 (#221 overall), 2016. Contract Details; Career Earnings ... Team signed with 2016-2016 Signing Bonus. Contract Terms: 1 yr(s) / $147,500.
  24. [24]
    Luke Raley - MLB, Minor League Baseball Statistics
    2016, Arizona Dodgers · Ariz, Rk, LAN, 6, 21, LF-1B, 5, 16, 4, 10, 1, 0, 1, 2, 0, 0, 2, 2, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 14, 19, 2, 8 .625 .684 .875, 1.559 .375 .250 .692 ...
  25. [25]
    Twins trade Brian Dozier to Dodgers - MLB.com
    Jul 31, 2018 · The Twins made their fifth and final deal before Tuesday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, sending second baseman James Dozier to the Dodgers.
  26. [26]
    Dodgers Officially Trade For Brian Dozier, Send Logan Forsythe ...
    Jul 31, 2018 · The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially acquired Brian Dozier from the Minnesota Twins for Logan Forsythe, Luke Raley and Devin Smeltzer.
  27. [27]
    Twins Roster & Staff - Transactions | Minnesota Twins
    Date, Transaction. 07/31/18, Minnesota Twins traded 2B Brian Dozier to Los Angeles Dodgers for 2B Logan Forsythe, OF Luke Raley and LHP Devin Smeltzer.
  28. [28]
    Luke Raley News - RotoWire
    Raley slashed .302/.362/.516 for the Red Wings. He was sidelined from mid-May until late September, rehabbing from surgery. Raley is a stocky 6-foot-4, 235 ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  29. [29]
    Kenta Maeda trade Twins Dodgers - MLB.com
    Feb 10, 2020 · Twins officially acquire Maeda from Dodgers ; DODGERS-TWINS TRADE ; Dodgers get: RHP Brusdar Graterol, OF Luke Raley, 67th pick in 2020 Draft
  30. [30]
    Luke Raley Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News
    Status: Active ; Born: 9/19/1994 in Hinckley, OH ; Draft: 2016, Los Angeles Dodgers, Round: 7, Overall Pick: 221 ; College: Lake Erie College ; MLB Debut: 4/09/2021.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  31. [31]
    Press release: Dodgers trade Luke Raley - MLB.com
    Mar 18, 2022 · The Los Angeles Dodgers have traded outfielder Luke Raley to the Tampa Bay Rays for minor league pitcher Tanner Dodson.
  32. [32]
    Mariners Trade José Caballero To Rays For Luke Raley
    Jan 5, 2024 · They are sending infielder José Caballero to the Rays in exchange for outfielder Luke Raley, per announcements from both clubs.
  33. [33]
    Luke Raley Stats: Statcast, Visuals & Advanced Metrics
    Standard Minor League Fielding Statistics ; 2016, Great Lakes Loons, MID, A(Full), DH ; 2017, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, CAL, A(Adv), 1B ...
  34. [34]
    Luke Raley - Seattle Mariners Right Fielder - ESPN
    View the profile of Seattle Mariners Right Fielder Luke Raley on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.Game Log · Full Splits · News · StatsMissing: trades transactions<|control11|><|separator|>
  35. [35]
    Luke Raley placed on injured list with right oblique strain - MLB.com
    Apr 30, 2025 · Raley suffered a right oblique strain on a swing during early batting practice on Tuesday that Hollander classified as “Grade 1 to 1-plus,” which comes with a ...
  36. [36]
    Mariners Reinstate INF/OF Luke Raley from the 10-day IL
    Jun 20, 2025 · Raley, 30, was placed on the 10-day Injured List with a right oblique strain on April 30, retroactive to April 28. In 5 rehab games with Triple- ...
  37. [37]
    Mariners' Luke Raley: Lifted with side tightness - CBS Sports
    Sep 3, 2025 · Raley was removed from Wednesday's game against the Rays due to tightness in his side, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.Missing: September | Show results with:September
  38. [38]
    https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/nov/08/mariners-free-agency-preview-will-team-pursue-outf/
  39. [39]
    Luke Raley keeps grounded approach, looking to stick with Rays
    Mar 1, 2023 · He got engaged to Avon Lake native Katie Mihalik, a second-grade teacher in Westlake, on Oct. 29. Their wedding is set for Dec. 29. The couple ...
  40. [40]
    Katie Mihalik and Luke Raley Wedding Registry - Find a Couple
    Katie Mihalik and Luke Raley from Cleveland, OH have registered at Macy's,Target,Amazon for their wedding on December 29, 2023. Browse all their registries inMissing: marriage | Show results with:marriage
  41. [41]
    Katie Mihalik - 2017 - Volleyball - Cleveland State University Athletics
    14 Katie Mihalik · Height: 6-0 · Year: Senior · Hometown: Avon Lake, Ohio · High School: Avon Lake · Position: OH. Summary; Media; Season; Career; Historical ...
  42. [42]
    Avon Lake's Katie Mihalik to sign with Cleveland State University
    Nov 11, 2013 · Avon Lake volleyball star Katie Mihalik will play her college volleyball at Cleveland State University.
  43. [43]
    Former Rays OF Luke Raley learns about Mariners move during ...
    Jan 10, 2024 · ... Luke Raley learns about Mariners move during romantic getaway. Luke Raley and his wife Katie Mihalik. "A little bit ...
  44. [44]
    Luke Raley returns to Mariners lineup after birth of first child - MLB.com
    Mar 1, 2025 · Raley and his wife, Katie Mihalik, welcomed the birth of their first child, Reagan, on Tuesday, right here in Arizona, allowing him to step away for a few days ...
  45. [45]
    Seattle Mariners Infielder Luke Raley Scratched From Game Due to ...
    Feb 25, 2025 · Whatever Raley does in 2025, his child will get to witness it. Congratulations to Raley and his family. Related Stories on Seattle Mariners.Missing: Reagan | Show results with:Reagan
  46. [46]
    Family of Seattle Mariners' Luke Raley plays funny role in big game
    Jun 19, 2024 · Not only did Ohio native Luke Raley have a huge game for the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday in Cleveland, but his family played a part, too.Missing: Doug Beth brother
  47. [47]
    Family, friends cheer on Luke Raley at Guardians game | Medina ...
    Jun 19, 2024 · With Raley's mother Beth organizing, roughly 100 friends and family in the left-field bleachers gave him rousing ovations each time he ran ...Missing: Doug brother
  48. [48]
    Mariners teammates Luke Raley, Dominic Canzone play in Cleveland
    Jun 21, 2024 · Raley, 29, and Canzone, 26, grew up cheering on Cleveland sports teams just like their parents, Beth Raley and Doug Raley, and Amy Miklos and ...