The ability to hit from both sides of the plate is rare enough. Doing it while consistently launching baseballs over the fence? That’s a whole other conversation.
Switch-hitters with the most home runs in a season represent a unique blend of power and versatility. From Mickey Mantle’s iconic 1961 campaign to Cal Raleigh’s jaw-dropping 2025, these sluggers have redefined what’s possible when you can do damage from either batter’s box.
Editor’s Note: The Sports Card Cash-Out System Guide is Here… Buy it now!
Most Home Runs in a Season By Switch-Hitters
Here are the top 11 switch-hitting home run seasons in MLB history:
- Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners (2025): 60 home runs
- Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees (1961): 54
- Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees (1956): 52
- Lance Berkman, Houston Astros (2006): 45
- Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves (1999): 45
- Anthony Santander, Baltimore Orioles (2024): 44
- Mark Teixeira, Texas Rangers (2005): 43
- Lance Berkman, Houston Astros (2002): 42
- Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees (1958): 42
- Carlos Beltran, New York Mets (2006): 41
- Todd Hundley, New York Mets (1996): 41
Raleigh’s Historic 60-Homer Season Changes Everything
Raleigh came into 2025 with two straight 30-homer seasons. So, it’s not like his power came completely out of nowhere, but taking the jump from 34 in 2024 to 60 in 2025 certainly surprised everyone. And by the time Game 162 was in the books, he broke Mantle’s 64-year-old record.
Big Dumper’s achievement doesn’t just stand alone among switch-hitters, either. He became just the seventh player in MLB history to reach the 60-homer plateau, joining Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Roger Maris, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Aaron Judge.
This feat is even more remarkable because of the position he plays. Catching is the most physically demanding job on the diamond, yet Raleigh maintained enough strength and bat speed to consistently punish baseballs from both sides of the plate for six months. He only missed three games, too.
T-Mobile Park is usually more pitcher-friendly, but Raleigh loved hitting in front of the home fans. He slugged 32 taters in Seattle, leaving the other 28 to be scattered across road stadiums. His two favorite places to mash taters as a visiting player in 2025 were Angel Stadium and Wrigley Field (four homers at each location).
Santander’s 44-Homer Breakout Earned Him Nine Figures
While Raleigh grabbed the headlines, Anthony Santander’s 2024 campaign quietly positioned him for a huge payday. He mashed 44 homers in his walk year for the Baltimore Orioles after entering the campaign with just three seasons of 20-plus homers (and a career-high mark of 33) between 2017 and 2023. It’s also worth noting that Santander’s 102 RBI in 2024 marked the first time he surpassed the century mark.
Baltimore got a front-row seat to the Tony Tater show all season. While he hit 26 of his 44 homers on the road, Santander split his production rather evenly between the first half (24) and the second half (20). But he made most of his money between June and July. Those were the only months he finished with an OPS above .900. He also slugged a combined 22 homers with 44 RBI during this time (229 plate appearances).
The Toronto Blue Jays locked him down to a five-year, $92.5 million deal, hoping he could be part of a powerful middle of the lineup with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Although Santander posted just a .565 OPS with six homers and 18 RBI in 54 games during the regular season, he’s racking up plate appearances as the Jays try to punch a ticket to the World Series.
Mickey Mantle Remains the Gold Standard
Raleigh might’ve broken the single-season record, but Mantle still owns this conversation. The Commerce Comet is the only switch-hitter to appear in the above list more than once…and he did it three times!
Mantle’s 536 career home runs are still the most ever by a switch-hitter. That mark feels quite safe, even in today’s game where homers seem to fly at an incredible rate. He did it in an age without advanced analytics, without optimized swing paths, and while battling injuries that would’ve ended the careers of most players.
The Mick’s 1956 MVP season showcased the type of terror that defined his prime years. He walked away with the Triple Crown after slashing .353/.464/.705 with 52 home runs and 130 RBI.
Sustained excellence is what separates Mantle from everyone else on this list for now. Raleigh had one transcendent season. Santander parlayed his one big year into a huge contract. But Mantle delivered elite switch-hitting power for over a decade.
The record might be gone, but Mantle’s legacy as the greatest switch-hitting power threat in baseball history? That’s not going anywhere.
Love home runs? Sign up for my Substack today and start getting interesting home run-related observations straight to your inbox! And if you’re new to MLB Daily Dingers, you should start here.
