J. T. Realmuto facts for kids

Quick facts for kids J. T. Realmuto
Realmuto with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2024
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 10
Catcher
Born: (1991-03-18) March 18, 1991 (age 34) Del City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
June 5, 2014, for the Miami Marlins
MLB statistics (through July 18, 2025)
Batting average	.272
Hits	1,319
Home runs	173
Runs batted in	657
Stolen bases	101
Teams
Miami Marlins (2014–2018) Philadelphia Phillies (2019–present)
Career highlights and awards
3× All-Star (2018, 2019, 2021) 2× All-MLB First Team (2019, 2022) All-MLB Second Team (2020) 2× Gold Glove Award (2019, 2022) 3× Silver Slugger Award (2018, 2019, 2022)
Medals Men's baseball Representing  United States World Baseball Classic Silver 2023 Miami Team

Jacob Tyler Realmuto (born March 18, 1991) is an American professional baseball catcher. He plays for the Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball (MLB). Before joining the Phillies, he played for the Miami Marlins. J. T. also plays for the United States in international games.

J. T. Realmuto was born in Del City, Oklahoma. He grew up in a family that loved sports. In high school, he played baseball and gridiron football. He helped his teams at Carl Albert High School win state championships. Even though he was a shortstop in high school, a scout from the Miami Marlins suggested he become a full-time catcher.

The Marlins picked J. T. in the 2010 MLB Draft. He decided to sign with them instead of playing college baseball at Oklahoma State. He spent several years playing in the Marlins' minor league teams. There, he worked on his catching skills and built strong relationships with pitchers.

J. T. made his MLB debut in June 2014. This happened when the Marlins' starting catcher got hurt. He became the main catcher for the Marlins in 2015. His strength and speed made him a great player. He was chosen for his first All-Star team in 2018. That same year, he also won his first Silver Slugger Award.

In 2019, the Marlins traded J. T. to the Phillies. He quickly became a star for his new team. He earned more All-Star and Silver Slugger awards. He also won his first Gold Glove Award for being an amazing defensive player. After the 2020 season, fans and teammates wanted the Phillies to sign him again. In 2021, he signed a huge contract with the Phillies. It was the biggest contract ever for a catcher in MLB history!

Growing Up and High School Sports

J. T. Realmuto was born on March 18, 1991, in Del City, Oklahoma. His family was very athletic. His dad played college baseball. His older sisters were college softball catchers. His uncle, John Smith, was even a two-time Olympic gold medalist in wrestling!

J. T.'s parents were very involved in his sports. His dad coached his sisters' teams. His mom often drove him to his Little League Baseball games. He started playing baseball at age five and wrestling at age six. In fourth grade, he added basketball and gridiron football. He even played tennis for a short time in middle school.

In high school, J. T. played three sports for Carl Albert High School. He was the shortstop in baseball, the quarterback in football, and a power forward in basketball. Both his baseball and football teams won state championships. In his senior year (2010), J. T. had an amazing baseball season. He set a national high school record with 119 runs batted in (RBIs) in 42 games. He also hit .595 with 21 home runs.

Because of his great performance, the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) named him their National Player of the Year. He also received other All-American honors.

Starting His Professional Journey

Realmuto with the Jupiter Hammerheads in 2012

Even though J. T. was mostly a shortstop in high school, he sometimes played catcher. A scout for the Miami Marlins saw him catch. The scout told J. T. that he had a better chance of playing in MLB as a catcher. The Marlins then picked J. T. in the third round of the 2010 MLB Draft. He chose to sign with the Marlins, getting a $700,000 bonus.

He started his professional career in the Rookie Gulf Coast League. In 2011, he moved up to the Class A Greensboro Grasshoppers. He split his time between catching and being a designated hitter. J. T. did very well, hitting .287 with 12 home runs. He also showed off his strong arm by throwing out 42% of players trying to steal bases. He helped the Grasshoppers win a championship!

In 2012, J. T. moved to the Class A-Advanced Jupiter Hammerheads. He often played with a talented young pitcher named José Fernández. They were seen as future stars for the Marlins. J. T. was chosen for the Florida State League All-Star Game. He continued to be great at throwing out base stealers.

In 2013, J. T. played for the Double A Jacksonville Suns. He worked on building good relationships with his pitchers. His teammates liked how he made them feel comfortable. By the end of 2013, the Marlins added him to their main 40-man roster. This protected him from being picked by other teams.

In 2014, Baseball America called J. T. the "best defensive catcher" in the Marlins' system. He started the season in Double A again. His hitting improved a lot that year. He was named the Southern League's Offensive Player of the Week in April. He helped Jacksonville win the Southern League championship. He was also named the Marlins' Minor League Player of the Year.

Becoming an MLB Star

First Years with the Marlins (2014–2015)

J. T. Realmuto got his first call-up to the major leagues on June 1, 2014. He filled in for the injured starting catcher. He made his MLB debut on June 5, getting three RBIs in a big win. He played a few games, then went back to the minor leagues. He was called up again later in September. In total, he played 11 MLB games in 2014.

Realmuto with the Marlins in 2015

In 2015, J. T. started the season in Triple A. But he was quickly called up to the Marlins again. He became the team's starting catcher when the previous one was moved. He hit his first major league home run on May 18, 2015. Later that year, he hit two home runs in one game, including an inside-the-park home run. This was a rare feat for a Marlins player! In his first full MLB season, he hit .259 with 10 home runs. He also set a Marlins rookie record with 114 hits. He was named the Marlins' Rookie of the Year.

Growing as a Player (2016–2017)

J. T. worked hard to improve his defense in 2016. He focused on framing pitches better. He continued to hit well, batting around .300 for much of the season. He finished 2016 with a .303 batting average, 11 home runs, and 48 RBIs.

In 2017, the Marlins considered letting J. T. play other positions, like first base. He started the season strong, earning National League Player of the Week. He hit his second career inside-the-park home run that year. Defensively, he became even faster. He made the fastest recorded pickoff in MLB history, catching a runner stealing in just 1.38 seconds! He finished 2017 hitting .278 with 17 home runs. He also won the Jeff Conine Award and the Heart & Hustle Award for his dedication to the game.

All-Star Recognition (2018)

Realmuto and Wei-Yin Chen with the Marlins in 2018

J. T. started the 2018 season on the injured list with a back bruise. He returned in April. He was one of the few experienced players left on the Marlins team. In 2018, J. T. was chosen for his first All-Star Game. He was the only Marlin selected. He finished the season with a .277 batting average, 21 home runs, and 74 RBIs. He won his second Heart & Hustle award and was named the Marlins' Most Valuable Player. He also won the Silver Slugger Award as the best offensive catcher in the National League.

After the season, J. T. played in the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series.

Joining the Philadelphia Phillies

A New Team and More Awards (2019)

Realmuto with the Phillies in 2019

In February 2019, the Marlins traded J. T. to the Philadelphia Phillies. This was a big move! He quickly became the Phillies' starting catcher. He was chosen for his second All-Star Game that year. He had a career-high 25 home runs and led all major league catchers in RBIs, runs, hits, and doubles.

Defensively, he was outstanding. He threw out 37 players trying to steal bases, the most by any Phillies catcher since 1993. He also played more innings than any other catcher in 2019. In November, J. T. won his first career Gold Glove Award for his amazing defense. A few days later, he won his second Silver Slugger Award. He was also named to the first-ever All-MLB First Team.

Shortened Season and "Sign J. T." (2020)

Realmuto (right) catching for the Phillies in 2020

The 2020 MLB season was shortened to 60 games because of the COVID-19 pandemic. J. T. wanted to play in as many games as possible. He started the season very strong, hitting eight home runs in the first 14 games. He missed 10 games in September due to a hip injury. He finished the season hitting .266 with 11 home runs.

J. T. was set to become a free agent after the 2020 season. Phillies fans and teammates started a campaign called "Sign J. T." They wanted the team to offer him a new contract. Star player Bryce Harper often yelled "sign him" to the team's management. Fans even chanted "Sign J. T." outside the ballpark. In January 2021, J. T. signed a five-year, $115.5 million contract with the Phillies. This was the largest contract ever for a catcher in MLB history!

Injuries and All-Star Game (2021)

J. T. fractured his thumb on the first day of spring training in 2021. He returned in March. He had another injury in May, missing 11 games due to a bone bruise on his hand. On June 6, he hit his 100th major league home run.

Even with some injuries and a hitting slump, J. T. was named to the 2021 All-Star Game. This was his third All-Star selection in a row. He was chosen as the starting catcher for the National League team. He hit a solo home run in the game, which was the first by a Phillies player in an All-Star game since 1981! He finished the 2021 season hitting .263 with 17 home runs and 13 stolen bases. He also had the fastest sprint speed of all major league catchers.

Continued Success (2022–2024)

Realmuto with the Phillies in 2022

In 2022, J. T. continued to shine. He hit .276 with 22 home runs and 21 stolen bases. In the playoffs, he made history in Game 4 of the 2022 National League Division Series. He hit an inside-the-park home run, becoming the first Phillies player and first catcher ever to do so in the postseason! In the 2022 World Series, he hit a game-winning home run in Game 1. After the season, he won his third Silver Slugger and second Gold Glove award.

On June 12, 2023, J. T. achieved a rare feat: he hit for the cycle against the Diamondbacks. This means he hit a single, double, triple, and home run all in the same game! He was the first Phillies player to do this since 2004.

On June 11, 2024, J. T. had surgery on his right knee. He was placed on the injured list to recover.

Player Profile

J. T. Realmuto is often called the "best catcher in baseball" by sports writers, coaches, and teammates. This started around 2018. Phillies manager Joe Girardi and other players have praised his skills. Phillies pitchers Zack Wheeler and Chase Anderson even said that pitching to J. T. was a reason they joined the team.

Defensively, J. T. is known for his speed and accuracy. In 2018, he had the fastest "pop time" in the league. This is the time it takes for a catcher to get the ball and throw it to try and get a runner out. He also led all major league catchers in throwing out base runners. He is also great at blocking pitches, stopping almost all potential wild pitches.

Offensively, J. T. is also very successful. In 2018, his batting average was much higher than the average for MLB catchers. He has improved his hitting over the years, hitting the ball harder and higher. He also has a faster sprint speed than most MLB players, even faster than most catchers!

As J. T. gets older, the Phillies focus on keeping him healthy. He turned 30 before the 2021 season. Many catchers start to slow down around this age. But J. T. works out daily to stay strong and healthy.

Awards and Honors

Personal Life

J. T. Realmuto is of Italian descent. He married Alexis Taylor on November 4, 2017. They have four children: two daughters born in 2018 and 2019, and two sons born in 2021 and 2023.

During the baseball season, the Realmuto family lives in Haddonfield, New Jersey. In the offseason, they have a home in Oklahoma City. J. T. and his wife are Christians.

J. T. and his family are good friends with Bryce Harper, another star player on the Phillies. J. T. is also friends with Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich. They were both drafted by the Marlins in the same year.

In 2019, J. T. and pitcher Aaron Nola represented the Phillies for "Home Plate Project." This group helps fight childhood hunger.