BCIB: JT Realmuto tops MLB Network's list of the Top 10 Catchers in baseball

Phillies catcher JT Realmuto sits atop MLB Network’s Top 10 Catchers list for the third straight season.

JT Realmuto: Best. Catcher. In. Baseball

A full look at @MLBNow’s #Top10RightNow behind the plate 🍽️

What would you change? pic.twitter.com/2Z6dE3zKSm
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 3, 2023

For the first time all offseason, I actually think MLB Network got this list right. The Top 3 catchers on this list are the best three catchers in baseball; nobody else in the league should have taken either of these three spots. Will Smith sits at #2 and Adley Rutschman at #4, although Rutschman will most certainly jump into that two-spot after the 2023 season following an outstanding rookie season, slashing 13 HRs and a 128 OPS+ in 113 games with Baltimore.

JT’s 2022 got off to a rough start, hitting under .270 in the first three months, including a .225 average in June, one of the worst months of his career. JT struck out 60 times over April-June and was holding the Phillies’ offense back while being a consistent liability at the top of the order.

And then a switch flipped when Bryce Harper went down…

JT Realmuto had the best month of his career in July, slashing .358/.423/.642 with 5 HRs, 17 RBIs, and 24 hits in 67 ABs. He would continue to dominate throughout the rest of the season, hitting .303 in August and .273. Realmuto stayed lethal behind the plate as well, holding a .993 fielding percentage in 1,131 innings, throwing out 26% of runners, which would bring him the second Gold Glove of his career.

Realmuto, who had the longest playoff drought in all of baseball, was a huge reason the Phillies broke their 11-year drought. JT Realmuto had moments all throughout the playoffs, including his inside-the-park homer vs. San Diego, but his biggest moment came in Game 1 of the World Series when he hit a ball over the right field fence in the 10th inning to win the Phils the game.

For the third year in a row, @Phillies do-it-all catcher J.T. Realmuto lands atop our #Top10RightNow list as the #⃣1⃣ backstop in baseball! pic.twitter.com/MPrP0u8gzH
— MLB Now (@MLBNow) February 3, 2023

Although I haven’t agreed with some of MLB Network’s rankings this offseason, it’s pretty crazy to see how many Phillies are ranked. Two outfielders, two infielders, a catcher, two pitchers, and the best pitching prospect in all of baseball. Elite.

phillies MLB Network rankings:

Catcher – #1 (J.T. Realmuto)
First Baseman – #10 (Rhys Hoskins)
Shortstop – #1 (Trea Turner)
Left Fielder – #3 (Kyle Schwarber)
Right Fielder – #3 (Bryce Harper)
Starter – #8 (Zack Wheeler)
Pitching Prospect – #1 (Andrew Painter)
— m (@matttadelphia) February 3, 2023

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