No 3: J.T. Realmuto
J.T. Realmuto remains one of the most important players on and off the field for the Phillies. The veteran catcher has built his reputation on being able to handle a major league pitching staff while keeping opposing runners honest on the basepaths.
One of the best-hitting backstops in the game. Realmuto has a skill not typical of your average major league catcher. A three-time All-Star and Silver Slugger, in addition to being a two-time Gold Glove winner, Realmuto is simply one of the best in the business.
As an offensive player, Realmuto had an up-and-down 2023 at the plate. But by season's end, the 33-year-old catcher had reached most of his expected totals in many offensive categories. Despite batting a career-low .252, Realmuto hit 20 home runs and drove in 63 runs in 540 plate appearances. Add in 16 stolen bases and five triples, and you begin to see why Realmuto's speed is a rare commodity for a major league catcher.
Realmuto also had another outstanding year behind the plate as a game-caller. In combination with backup catcher Garrett Stubbs, the Phillies team ERA of 4.03 was ranked sixth-best in the majors last season. In 133 games, Realmuto only made two errors and recorded a solid fielding percentage of .998.
One area where he regressed was in controlling the running game. With the addition of the pitch clock and larger bases in 2023, opposing runners had more incentive to steal bases. Realmuto caught 23 base stealers last season, but posted a career-worst 22 percent caught stealing rate.
Realmuto will once again play a vital role as a leader and core veteran for the Phillies this season. As long as injuries aren't part of the equation in 2024, expect him to catch upwards of 130 games again this year. While health is never a given, the Phillies look forward to Realmuto bouncing back in a few offensive and defensive categories in 2024 and earning his No. 3 spot in our Phillies infield power rankings.