Philadelphia Phillies catch tough break with J.T. Realmuto

It has not exactly been a great week for Philadelphia sports fans. Carson Wentz was sent to Indianapolis for a disappointing return, the former second overall draft pick and Super Bowl winning quarterback seeing his tenure end ingloriously. On Thursday, the Philadelphia Phillies became a part of the narrative as well.

On Thursday, manager Joe Girardi announced that star catcher J.T. Realmuto suffered a fractured thumb catching a bullpen session during the previous week. His thumb will be immobilized for two weeks, and the hope is that he will be ready for Opening Day.

Philadelphia Phillies have tough break with J.T. Realmuto

There is no question that the Phillies need Realmuto in their lineup. He was their prized signing this offseason, landing a five year, $115.5 million contract to return to Philadelphia. His presence, both behind the plate and in the batter’s box, greatly improves the Phillies’ chances.

But there is now a question of when he will be able to return to action. He will be evaluated again once those two weeks have passed, giving the Phillies a better idea as to when he will be able to return to action. From there, they are likely to be cautious, making certain that his thumb is fully healthy before he returns to the lineup.

While Philadelphia is high on Andrew Knapp, he is not in the same class as Realmuto. Even in the shortened season, he continued to produce at an impressive rate, posting a .266/.349/.491 batting line with 11 homers and six doubles over his 195 plate appearances.

Realmuto is equally important defensively. A Gold Glove caliber catcher, he has led the National League with 21 runs saved behind the plate since the start of the 2019 season. His strong arm essentially shuts down the running game, making him one of the best all around catchers in the game.

The season has not yet begun and the Philadelphia Phillies have already had a tough break. J.T. Realmuto’s fractured thumb could be an issue into the season.