J.T. Realmuto Placed on 10-Day IL, To Undergo Meniscus Surgery
Just when the Phillies expected to get healthy, another ailment popped up. Though Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh should return soon, baseball’s team will be without arguably baseball’s best catcher, as J.T. Realmuto is heading to the Injured List. The club announced the news on Tuesday afternoon.
Realmuto had been banged up quite a bit in recent games, including taking a foul tip to the groin and a hit to the shoulder at home plate a week ago. The Athletic’s Matt Gelb wrote earlier today that he has played through right knee soreness for about a month. Rather than let it linger, Realmuto and the Phillies hope to address the issue now and trade whatever production they would’ve gotten from him for the next little while for health down the stretch and into the postseason. There is no current timeline for Realmuto’s return. However, Cristian Pache tore his meniscus last year on April 28 and returned on June 16 after undergoing surgery.
Still, Realmuto’s absence is significant. He has caught exactly 133 games in three of his four full seasons in Philadelphia (he caught 118 games in 2021). Realmuto was on pace to catch 127 contests in 2024. His .720 OPS is the lowest since his 2015 rookie season with the Miami Marlins. However, Realmuto was 2-20 in June. On May 26, he had a .792 OPS, in line with his average over the last three seasons. He was lifted for a pinch-runner in the ninth inning of Philadelphia’s game on Sunday, a hint of what was to come given Realmuto is 21st in sprint speed, 12 spots ahead of the next fastest catcher.
The options to fill his void are concerning. While Garrett Stubbs is a fan-favorite, he has not been a productive hitter over the last season and a half. He is good at throwing out base stealers but his overall defensive metrics are not strong. Rafael Marchán, Realmuto’s replacement on the active roster, has not played a Major League game since 2021. He was once considered a quality prospect but has only played 70, 55, and 32 Minor League games over the last three seasons due to injuries. He had a .777 OPS in 55 plate appearances at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
It is not a death sentence because the Phillies are living the good life now. They can afford to lose a key contributor for part of the summer if it will put them in better shape for the postseason. But an inconsistent lineup as of late just got thinner. Few players provide more value than a quality catcher. Realmuto is even more than that, which makes his absence even more noticeable.
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