2023 WBC: Star player VOL.2: J.T. Realmuto, Possible catcher to join the USA

I'm introducing today's player J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia's catcher.  He will be a member of the USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Realmuto is a slugging, cannon-armed, and swift-footed catcher.

The Marlins selected Realmuto in the third round of the 2010 MLB Draft and made the big league debut in 2014. In the following year, he became a regular catcher for the Marlins.

Three-time All-Star hit twenty-one home runs in 2018 to become his first National League Silver Slugger for the best hitter in each position. In the off-season, he visited Japan for the Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series and belted two homers. 

The Philadelphia Phillies acquired him in 2019, whose season he had twenty-five shots, his career-high, and received the NL Silver Slugger Award for the second consecutive year. Also, the 31-year-old catcher marked the best Opposition Caught Stealing at .467 in the National League to win his first Gold Glove Award as a catcher. His average pop time to 2nd base is excellently the fastest in MLB.

This year Realmuto had one of his best seasons, hitting.276 with 22 home runs, his second career most, 84 RBI, his career-best, and 22 stolen bases, his career-high, getting the National League Gold Glove for his second time. With him, the Phillies advanced to the World Series this season.

(MLB No.224 KAISPO No.1403)