That Balls Outta Here
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10 Reasons Phillies fans should be thankful this year

By Gabrielle Starr

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 28: Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phillie Phanatic attends the 100th 6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 28: Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phillie Phanatic attends the 100th 6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images) /
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Phillies Zack Wheeler
Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

2. Zack Wheeler

Duh again. The should-be NL Cy Young led all MLB pitchers in innings pitched, batters faced, complete games, and shutouts. He also led the NL in strikeouts and was the first pitcher to reach both 200 innings and 200 strikeouts this season, two benchmarks he’d never hit before.

Wheeler definitely wasn’t appreciated as much as he should have been this year, first in the All-Star Game, then with the Cy Young snub, and earlier this week, he was put on the All-MLB Second Team when he should’ve been First Team. He deserves more thanks than he’s gotten.

3. Ranger Suárez

Ranger Suárez was the Phillies’ unexpected blessing this season, first in the bullpen, and then in the starting rotation. Over 27 relief appearances, he posted a 1.12 ERA. Then, he moved to the rotation for the first time since 2018 and made 12 starts, including a Maddux game (complete game shutout on less than 100 pitches). His ERA as a starter was only 1.51 over 65 2/3 innings. His teammates are absolutely obsessed with him, and he’s definitely someone to be thankful for.

4. J.T. Realmuto aka BCIB

J.T. Realmuto didn’t have his best year, and even so was still one of the best catchers in the game. He led the NL in games played, at-bats, hits, doubles, triples, and stolen bases. Thanks in large part to his expertise behind the dish, the Phillies had the second-fewest errors (3) by a catcher in 2021, far below the league average (9), ranked eighth in catcher put-outs, and tied for second in catcher fielding percentage with a near-perfect .998.

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