J.T. Realmuto’s candid remarks could offer Philadelphia Phillies fans a much-needed fresh start. Improvement is something everyone would welcome.
The Phillies will once again lean on their veteran core in 2026, a group determined to silence doubters after the club chose continuity this winter by re-signing Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber to multi-year deals. Realmuto’s recent comments about his play over the past two seasons are sure to resonate with fans eager to see a resurgence at the plate.
The veteran catcher turns 35 on March 18, just over a week before Philadelphia opens the regular season against the Texas Rangers. Although there was uncertainty earlier in the offseason about whether he would return, Realmuto says he’s thrilled to be back.
He’s also been honest about his recent struggles. In an interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark, Realmuto admitted he hasn’t met his own expectations at the plate over the last two years and is motivated to change that in 2026.
“I’m pretty realistic with myself,” Realmuto said. “The last two years, I haven’t been happy. I don’t think I played to my ability. But my body feels great. I still believe I have a lot of good baseball left. I want to go out, stay healthy, have a strong year, and prove that turning 35 as a catcher doesn’t mean you’re finished.”
In 2024, a right knee injury that required surgery limited him to 99 games. He hit 14 home runs with 47 RBIs and posted a .751 OPS his lowest in a non-shortened season since his early days with the Miami Marlins.
Though healthier in 2025, appearing in 134 games, his offensive numbers dipped again. Realmuto finished with 12 homers, 52 RBIs, and a .699 OPS — his lowest mark since 2015.
Defensively, however, he remains among the league’s elite. He tied for fourth in caught stealing above average (+6) in 2025 and ranked second in MLB with 20 runners caught stealing. His 1.86-second pop time was the fastest in the majors. He also posted a .995 fielding percentage and led all catchers with more than 1,151 innings behind the plate.
If he stays healthy, Realmuto should continue to anchor the Phillies defensively. The big question for 2026 is whether his bat can rebound. Phillies fans are hopeful that this season brings that bounce-back performance and Realmuto is determined to prove the organization made the right call in bringing him back.
Leave a Reply