J.T. Realmuto named to 2019 All-Star team; is lone Phillies rep

Adding the best catcher in baseball this offseason paid off.

Published Jun. 30, 2019, 5:58 p.m. ET

MIAMI -- It is often a fight, Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said, for J.T. Realmuto to accept an off day. Realmuto is on pace this season to play more than any catcher in franchise history. He is not only one of baseball’s premier catchers, but one of the most durable.

And it is that durability that Kapler thinks helped Realmuto win the respect of his peers, who selected him Sunday to be a reserve in the All-Star Game. Realmuto, who was selected for the second straight year, will be the lone Phillie on the National League squad in Cleveland on July 9.

“He wants to play every single day,” Kapler said of Realmuto. “There’s not many catchers who you think could possibly play 150 games. He’s one of those guys. So it’s not just his level of play, it’s not just what he brings to the clubhouse on a daily basis, it’s also that he does it on a daily basis like any other everyday player.”

Realmuto started Sunday’s 13-6 win over Miami and has appeared in 79 of the team’s first 84 games this season. He is on pace to eclipse Darren Daulton’s franchise mark of 147 games set in 1993. When Kapler lifted Realmuto Sunday because of a minor hamstring issue, the manager persuaded him to take a break by reminding him how often he plays.

“I want to be a guy who posts every day for my teammates,” Realmuto said. “I know it’s a tough position and it’s definitely a grind back there a lot of days. But for me, the most important thing is getting on the field and playing well and just being there for your teammates and having that accountability that you’re going to be there every day, playing.”

The Phillies traded for Realmuto shortly before spring training and proclaimed that they had acquired baseball’s best catcher. Another All-Star nod helps their case. They added five former All-Stars this offseason but will send just one to Cleveland.

Realmuto has a .750 OPS this season with 10 homers as his offensive production has dipped this season due to a rough month of June. Realmuto said he can “definitely play better.” He was slowed this month by a groin injury, which could explain his offensive numbers. He had two hits on both Saturday and Sunday, which the Phillies hope is a sign that he is pulling out of his funk.

“It’s pretty special for me, for sure. Being in it last year was a dream come true and being able to go again should be a lot of fun and a great experience,” Realmuto said. “I definitely enjoy playing [with the Phillies], which is the most important thing, and we have the chance to do some special things this season. We just have to play better and get rolling.”

Even when his offense dipped, Realmuto’s defensive performance never seemed to change. Always a good defender, Realmuto seemed to take his game to another level in the season’s first three months and solidify himself as one of baseball’s truly elite defensive catchers. Baseball Prospectus grades him as the second-best pitch framer, FanGraphs awards him the second-most defensive WAR among catchers, and he leads all of baseball in runners caught stealing.

“I think he’s been an emotional catalyst for us,” Kapler said. “If he’s not the best defensive catcher in baseball, then I don’t know who would be a better choice for best defensive catcher in baseball. His at-bats have continually gotten better and I think he’s a rock for us. He’s somebody that we all lean on and look to, to inspire the group. I think he’s been spectacular for us.”