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Phillies 2019 season preview: Catcher J.T. Realmuto

By Matthew Landmesser

CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 16: Newly acquired J. T. Realmuto (10) walks out onto the field before the Philadelphia Phillies spring training workout on February 16, 2019 at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 16: Newly acquired J. T. Realmuto (10) walks out onto the field before the Philadelphia Phillies spring training workout on February 16, 2019 at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CLEARWATER, FL – FEBRUARY 16: J. T. Realmuto (10) catches a pitch during a bullpen session during the Philadelphia Phillies spring training workout on February 16, 2019 at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Realmuto’s role in 2019

When the Phillies shipped their top pitching prospect (Sixto Sanchez) and one of their previous top hitting prospects (Jorge Alfaro) to Miami, they were solidifying the catching position for the next 5-8 years. Realmuto has developed a different part of his game every year since he’s been in the league.

Realmuto came in as an athletic beast, hitting seven triples in 2015. In 2016, he focused on his approach at the plate, increasing his batting average from .259 to .303. 2017 saw an increase in run production, from 48 RBIs to 65. Finally, in 2018, the efficient power of 21 home runs in only 477 at-bats was the proverbial “kicking the door in” to his arrival as the league’s best catcher.

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As for Realmuto’s role, I believe he’ll be exactly what he was in Miami: a stabilizing force in the lineup and consistency behind the plate.  The catching position is undeniably his, a position that hurt the Phillies last year, shuttling three different catchers in and out. Having Realmuto behind the plate for 120-140 games will allow him to develop a relationship with the pitching staff, and understand their habits and tendencies.

The biggest hurdle that Realmuto will have to overcome is the number of wild pitches that the Phillies had in 2018. They had the 5th most in the majors, while Miami had the 6th least, which I think J.T. had a lot to do with.

The Phillies had the third-youngest pitching staff in the league (26.8) last year, and Miami was ranked eighth (27.6). Realmuto is used to working with young pitchers, and Philly has desperately needed a steady guy behind the plate since Chooch caught 132 games in 2011. From 2015 to 2018, Realmuto has appeared in at least 125 games each season. He’ll get to that 125 mark again in 2019.

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