J.T. Realmuto

Jacob Tyler Realmuto—an accomplished American professional baseball player—has made his name as a top-tier catcher for the Major League Baseball’s Philadelphia Phillies. He previously honed his skills on the Miami Marlins’ team. Born into sports and athleticism in Del City, Oklahoma, on March 18, 1991, he participated in various sports and made sizable contributions to his high school, Carl Albert High School, ensuring their victory during state championship titles.

Despite originally playing as the shortstop for his high school’s baseball team, the Miami Marlins scout convinced him to become a full-time catcher— a position that fits Realmuto perfectly. In 2010, the Marlins selected Realmuto in the third round of the MLB Draft. Opting to sign up with the Miami Marlins instead of playing college baseball at Oklahoma State, Realmuto bolstered his skills, impressing the team with his catching abilities and his skill at blocking base stealers.

An opportunity to step into the big league came in June 2014 when starting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia suffered a concussion. However, it was not until 2015 that Realmuto became the widely recognized face behind the Marlins’ starting catcher role. His strength, speed, and impressive performance both as a catcher and batter, led to his première All-Star appearance in 2018, where he received his first Silver Slugger Award. Realmuto was since traded to the Phillies in February 2019, and his subsequent performance on the field earned him his second All-Star and Silver Slugger awards that year. Following his excellent 2019 performance, he bagged his first career Gold Glove Award.

Despite his becoming a free agent after the 2020 season, his Phillies’ teammates and fans didn’t waiver in their support for him, even going as far as rallying for him to be signed again by the Phillies. By January 2021, the Phillies and Realmuto finally agreed to a five-year contract worth $115.5 million, making it the largest-ever for a catcher in the MLB’s history.

As an athlete from an early age, Realmuto was around sports, mentored by his father, a college baseball player, and his older sisters, who were college softball catchers. He started playing baseball at five and showed his athletic versatility as he ventured into other sports like wrestling at age six, basketball and gridiron football in fourth grade, and a brief stint in playing tennis in middle school.

Realmuto was a three-sport star at Carl Albert High School in Oklahoma from 2006 to 2010, where he prolifically played as the shortstop, the quarterback, and a power forward for the baseball, football, and basketball teams respectively. Under his influence, the Carl Albert baseball and football teams clinched their respective state championships.

In recognition of his effort, the American Baseball Coaches Association named Realmuto their National Player of the Year. He also received All-American team selections from both the ABCA and Louisville Slugger and he was awarded the Bob Colon Scholarship for being the top male high school scholar-athlete in Oklahoma City.

After majoring in shortstop during his high school years, a scout from the Miami Marlins saw his potential as a catcher and convinced him to focus on it. He agreed and joined the third round, 104th overall, of the 2010 MLB Draft to the club. Although he initially committed to play college baseball at Oklahoma State, Realmuto accepted the Marlins’ offer, with a signing bonus of $700,000.

Marlins farm director Jim Fleming and scouting director Stan Meek saw Realmuto’s potential and elevated him to the Class A Greensboro Grasshoppers in 2011. In 2012, Realmuto took his talents to the Class A-Advanced Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State League where he was named for the first time into the 2012 Florida State League All-Star Game. The 2013 season took him to the Jacksonville Suns but the highlight came in 2014 where he again got a shot in the big league after starting catcher Saltalamacchia got sidelined by an injury.

Realmuto’s professional career took a huge leap in 2015 where he spent most of his time in the field as the starting catcher for the Marlins. He played impressively, setting the Marlins’ rookie hit record and receiving Marlins’ Rookie of the Year in the same season. His continued performance in subsequent years earned him multiple awards and recognitions, culminating in a five-year contract with the Phillies in 2021, setting a record for the highest contract for a catcher in MLB history.