PHILADELPHIA— For years, the Philadelphia Phillies could claim they had the best catcher in baseball.
J.T. Realmuto was a brilliant acquisition made by former Phillies general manager Matt Klentak. Trading away top prospect Sixto Sanchez in the deal, Klentak added an All-Star catcher who brought a strong bat, brilliant defense, and uncommon speed for a catcher.
After seven seasons with the organization, the Phillies and their catcher find themselves asking what’s next. With Realmuto’s contract up at the conclusion of the 2025 season, his future has become unclear.
Realmuto’s Play
Through May, Realmuto found himself amid an offensive struggle at the plate. Seeing similar results to the version the club got in the postseason, the veteran catcher was slashing .222/.293/.361/.654 in 48 games. He had grounded into 10 double plays, which was among the most in all of Major League Baseball. A move down the lineup soon came, and Rob Thomson spoke about taking the pressure off of his catcher.
Once the calendar turned to June, however, Realmuto seemingly found his swing. In 16 games this month, Realmuto is slashing .328/.391/.379/.770. His numbers look much more like the star offensive catcher that the Phillies have utilized in years past.
Teammates like Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh also got off to slow starts this season. Like Realmuto, they have all turned the corner in recent months. Are these improvements simply just a hot streak in a long season? Or are these mechanical adjustments that have gotten Realmuto back on track? Time will deliver that answer, but hitting coach Kevin Long has to get some credit for the turnaround from his catcher.
What’s next?
With 84 games remaining this season, Realmuto is going to continue to anchor the Phillies behind the plate. His pitching staff loves working with him, and barring injury, his skipper will continue to give him regular playing time.
If he can continue to swing the bat well and play strong defense, Realmuto could force the Phillies’ hand when it comes to a new deal. If his offense reverts to his early-season form, it might give Dombrowski the idea it is time to move on.
Based on his performance in the second half of the season’s slate, Realmuto will be watched under a close eye by President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski. Dombrowski has some tough decisions to make this off-season with Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suarez, and Realmuto all becoming free agents.
Realmuto is making 23.875 million in the final year of his deal. He is the highest-paid catcher in baseball based on average annual value and trails only Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the highest-paid catcher in terms of contract total. If he is going to return to the Phillies next season or even beyond, he will have to take a reduced salary.
Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
