The Philadelphia Phillies recently confirmed changes regarding catcher J.T. Realmuto’s position for the upcoming season. In a statement, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced that Realmuto will catch less frequently in 2027.
Dombrowski emphasized that the decision was made to manage Realmuto’s workload more effectively. “I said, ‘I don’t know if I can accomplish this, but I don’t want you to hear about it from the press conference,’” he explained about his conversation with Realmuto. He added, “My goal is to try to reduce the number of games you catch.”
Realmuto, who signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Phillies in January, is set to earn $15 million in both 2027 and 2028. This past season, he posted a batting average of .205 and produced 11 home runs and 51 RBIs over 123 regular-season games. In the National League Wild Card Series against the Atlanta Braves, he went 2-for-10 with a triple and two RBIs.
As a result of this adjustment, Realmuto is likely to have more days off and may also transition to playing first base more frequently.
The announcement follows the Phillies’ early exit from the playoffs, having been eliminated by the Braves in the National League Wild Card Series. The Braves triumphed in two of the three games played at Truist Park, which allowed them to advance to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the next round.
After their exit, the Dodgers and Braves have both been eliminated, while the Milwaukee Brewers are prepared to compete against the winner of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians, a series currently tied 2-2.
Looking ahead, the restructuring of Realmuto’s role could significantly impact the Phillies’ roster strategy and overall performance for the next season.
