REAL TROUBLE
Philadelphia Phillies fans fear their ‘season is over’ as catcher JT Realmuto is put indefinitely on IL with knee injury
The Phillies wasted no time in replacing Realmuto on the active roster
PHILADELPHIA Phillies star JT Realmuto is set to undergo knee surgery.
The 33-year-old MLB catcher was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday.
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Realmuto will go under the knife on Wednesday as surgeons perform a right knee meniscectomy, per ESPN.
The three-time All-Star has been struggling with pain in his knee for the past month.
He missed three games between May 12-14 and underwent an MRI, which revealed a small tear in his meniscus.
Doctors cleared him to keep playing, but the issue arose again last weekend during the Phillies' trip to London.
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Realmuto hit the injured list on Tuesday prior to Philadelphia's game with the Boston Red Sox.
"J.T.'s going to work hard, I know that," said Phillies manager Rob Thomson.
Thomson added that Realmuto could return after the July 15-18 All-Star break.
"It should be about a month that he'll be out," added president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, per MLB.com.
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"@JTRealmuto calls games, controls the running game, and hits like a HOFer. This is the worst blow possible right now," wrote one Phillies fan on X.
"I knew this season was going too good to be true," complained another.
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"JT Realmuto needs surgery. Marsh is out. Turner is still out. Casty is our starting right field. Walker is still in the starting rotation. Phils season is so over," added a third.
"Hey Siri, can I donate my knee to @JTRealmuto?" asked a fourth.
Realmuto joined the Phillies in 2019 and has twice won the Gold Glove with the organization.
He has appeared in over 130 games in each of the last three seasons and is averaging .261 at the plate this year.
The Phillies beat the Red Sox 4-1 on Tuesday to improve to 46-20 on the season.
Five key MLB rule changes in 2024
1. The pitch clock is reduced from 20 to 18 seconds with runners on base. It will remain at 15 seconds with bases empty.
2. When a pitching change is made, the innings timer will reset to 2:00 rather than 2:15 like it did last year.
3. Teams will only be allowed four mound visits per game in 2024, down from five last season.
4. Fielders and defenders blocking bases will be called for obstruction by referees.
5. The runners' lane from home plate to first base has been widened to include the dirt between the grass and the white line.
Following the game, Realmuto's teammates admitted it was a "big blow" to lose their star catcher.
"J.T. is, I think, the best in the game," said starting pitcher Zach Wheeler.
"He’s caught me just about every start that I’ve pitched here."
Garrett Stubbs stepped in for Realmuto and looks set to be given the role in the starter's absence.
"It’s different throwing to somebody else, but [Stubbs] did a great job tonight," Wheeler continued.
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"He called a great game and he’s a big league catcher for a reason."
Catcher Rafael Marchan has been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Realmuto’s spot on the active roster.