Three Years Later, How Has Realmuto Impacted Phillies?

It's been three years since the Phillies traded for J.T. Realmuto, how much an impact has the catcher made in Philadelphia in that span?

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Three years ago today, the Philadelphia Phillies welcomed All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto to the city of Brotherly Love, trading away top pitching prospect Sixto Sanchez, catcher Jorge Alfaro, left-hander Will Stewart, and cash considerations.

Realmuto was brought in to help rebuild the Phillies franchise from their recent seasons of sub-.500 baseball, and it was just the right time for the trade to take place, as the club signed his friend and top free agent Bryce Harper just a few weeks later on Feb. 28.

Realmuto came to Philadelphia fresh off the heels of a breakout season in South Beach, batting .277/.340/.484, while hitting 21 home runs and driving in 74 RBI. His contributions landed him his first All-Star appearance, as well as his first Silver Slugger.

In his first season with the Phillies, Realmuto would continue this hot streak, helping spark the Phillies' new roster. Offensively, Realmuto put up slightly bigger numbers than his previous season, batting .275/.328/.493, while belting 25 home runs and garnering 83 RBI. 

Realmuto's dominance that year wasn't just in the batter's box, but also behind the plate, as he caught stealing an MLB-leading 43 runners. Realmuto also led MLB in double plays turned as catcher with a whopping 14.

With all of this considered, it was a no brainer for Realmuto to be named an All-Star for the second straight season, while bringing in another Silver Slugger, his first Gold Glove award, and even finishing 14th in NL MVP voting.

The following season would be something entirely different, not just for Realmuto, but for the whole league, as the season was shortened due to  COVID-19. Despite the shortened season, Realmuto would still provide solid numbers for the Phillies, finishing the season batting .266/.349/.491 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI across the 47 games in which he played. Statistically, it was Realmuto's lowest point in Philadelphia so far, but given the circumstances, he isn't alone in that category.

The 2021 season would welcome back a sense of normalcy, but for Realmuto, it would be another down year offensively. Realmuto ended the season hitting .263/.343/.439, with his batting average and slugging percentage hitting career lows for his time in red pinstripes. Despite this, Realmuto was named an All-Star for the third time in his career, representing the Phillies in Colorado with starter Zack Wheeler.

Observing Realmuto's career as a whole in Philadelphia thus far, his stats are still great for a catcher, even though they've been dipping down. 

However, the biggest asset Realmuto provides can't be shown through statistics alone, as the Phillies pitching staff speaks highly of his athleticism and catching abilities. When commenting on Realmuto, Wheeler said, “Playing against him all these years, I was wishing that he was my catcher, and now he is," later going on to add that J.T. was part of the reason he decided to come to Philadelphia.

Realmuto's veteran status and leadership may be his most valuable trait in helping the Phillies reach that next level, which they have been coming closer to each season. With four years left on his contract, it seems that Realmuto will continue to be a fan favorite in South Philadelphia.

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