Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto left Saturday night’s game against the Braves due to tightness in his lower back, according to manager Rob Thomson on Apr. 18.
Realmuto’s exit is significant for the Phillies as he has been one of baseball’s most durable catchers since joining the team in 2019. His absence could affect both the team’s defense and lineup continuity.
Thomson said, “We’re checking on him now. I doubt he’ll play tomorrow.” He explained that Realmuto first experienced discomfort after a play during Friday night’s loss to the Braves, saying, “Just kind of jammed his knee and jammed his back reaching for it.” Rafael Marchán was prepared to bat for Realmuto in the sixth inning but ultimately replaced him behind the plate in the seventh.
Realmuto, who recently signed a three-year, $45 million contract with Philadelphia, missed only one game earlier this month due to a bruised right foot—a rare occurrence given his durability record. Entering Saturday’s game, he had started 783 games at catcher for Philadelphia—more than any other player at that position since 2019—with Los Angeles’ Will Smith ranking second at 628 starts.
If Realmuto requires more recovery time than anticipated—though Thomson does not expect an injured list stint—Triple-A Lehigh Valley catcher Garrett Stubbs could be called up as a replacement. Stubbs served as backup from 2022-24 before spending most of last season with Triple-A affiliate IronPigs after being designated for assignment and clearing waivers before Opening Day. Dylan Moore is listed as Philadelphia’s emergency catcher by Thomson.
The Phillies are one of Major League Baseball’s oldest franchises and serve both local fans and a broader national audience according to their official website. The team has played home games at Citizens Bank Park since 2004 according to their official website, operates under leadership from its chief executive officer and general manager according to their official website, functions as a charter member of MLB’s National League according to their official website, and has achieved World Series victories in both 1980 and 2008 according to their official website.
