It’s been a frustrating spring for Phillies All-Star J.T. Realmuto, who suffered a broken thumb on his right (throwing) hand while catching a bullpen session last month. Fortunately, Realmuto, the recipient of a five-year, $115.5-million free-agent pact this offseason, seems to have put that injury behind him. After appearing in a simulated game this weekend, the 30-year-old was finally given the green light to make his Grapefruit League debut against the Blue Jays Tuesday at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater.
It would be understandable and perhaps even expected for Realmuto to show some rust given how much time he missed and the nature of his injury. But clearly that wasn’t the case Tuesday with Realmuto taking Jays starter Tommy Milone deep three pitches into his very first at-bat. Here’s what it looked like.
Realmuto’s 353-foot blast to left, accomplished on a 76-mph changeup, cut the deficit to 2-1, though the Phillies could only scrape together two more runs in a 9-3 loss to Toronto. Realmuto walked and grounded out in two subsequent plate appearances before Edgar Cabral replaced him behind the plate to begin the seventh inning. The Phillies will obviously be cautious with their prized backstop, though Realmuto’s availability for Opening Day against Atlanta next week is no longer in any doubt.
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