The MLB-best Philadelphia Phillies are hitting a bump in the road.
The Phillies announced Tuesday that catcher JT Realmuto has been placed on the injured list due to right knee pain. Realmuto is now scheduled to undergo surgery (a right knee meniscectomy) to fix the issue, the team adds.
Realmuto, a three-time All-Star, remains one of the most valuable players in the league at his position. This season, the 33-year-old is hitting .261 with seven home runs and 20 RBIs. Also a two-time Gold Glover, Realmuto has a strong defensive reputation behind the plate (though his metrics have slipped some this season).
Philadelphia has coasted to a 45-20 record so far in 2024, opening up a nine-game lead atop the NL East (the largest division lead in baseball). But the injury to Realmuto, which sounds like it has the potential to sideline him through the All-Star break with the surgery, will test their depth. The underwhelming duo of Garrett Stubbs and the newly-promoted Rafael Marchan will have to pick up the slack behind the dish for the Phillies to survive their latest injury to an All-Star player.
