It's a small sample size, but the Philadelphia Phillies are off to a strong start in the 2025 MLB season. Rob Thomson's club sits atop the NL East with a 3-1 record ahead of Wednesday's clash with the Colorado Rockies, leaving time to tell if the Phillies have what it takes to continue building momentum.
Although several Phillies have played big roles in the team's solid start, that hasn't been the case for everyone. Certain veterans are experiencing forgettable performances and must find a way to turn things around before it's too late.
JT Realmuto Off to Nightmare Start to 2025 Season
The 2025 campaign is supposed to be a big year for Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto. The three-time All-Star's contract will expire at the end of the season, and it remains to be seen if the two sides can work out a deal in time to prevent him from becoming a free agent this winter.
Having said that, the veteran backstop must start playing better if he wants to convince the Phillies that he deserves to be re-signed.
Through his first four appearances (13 at-bats), Realmuto is only batting .077 with one hit and an RBI without a walk. He's already struck out six times along the way, and even though his 46.2% strikeout percentage likely won't remain that high throughout the season, it's still noticeably above the MLB average of 22.0%.
It isn't the performance that Phillies fans expected from Realmuto, who only suited up in 99 games last season due to a knee injury. Even though he still managed to muster 14 home runs and 47 RBIs, his .751 OPS was his worst effort since 2016, At least, until his current performance (.308).
If Realmuto's struggles continue, the Phillies could soon promote fellow catcher Garrett Stubbs from the minors. The San Diego, CA native has been Realmuto's backup in Philadelphia throughout the last three seasons, tallying seven home runs, 39 RBIs, 40 walks, and nine stolen bases while slashing .222/.305/.324 in 141 games (383 ABs) since 2022.
The Phillies could also give Rafael Marchan more at-bats, who beat out Stubbs for the backup catcher job in Spring Training.
Hopefully, Realmuto gets back on track sooner rather than later, so he can help bring a championship to the City of Brotherly Love. For now, the Phillies own the third-best 2025 World Series odds (+1000) on FanDuel Sportsbook as the second week of the MLB season continues.
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