Jose Molina

Lore & Background

Realmuto was born in Del City, Oklahoma, into an athletic family. He played various sports as he grew up, helping both the baseball and football teams of Carl Albert High School win state championship titles. Although he served as the baseball team's shortstop throughout his high school career, a scout for the Miami Marlins encouraged Realmuto to become a full-time catcher. The Marlins selected him in the third round of the 2010 MLB draft, and Realmuto chose to sign with the team rather than honor a commitment to playing college baseball at Oklahoma State. He spent the next several seasons in the Marlins' farm system, building strong relationships with pitchers and working on picking off attempted base stealers. After starting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia suffered a concussion, Realmuto made his MLB debut in June 2014. His major league appearances were brief until 2015, when Saltalamacchia was designated for assignment and Realmuto replaced him as the Marlins' starting catcher. Realmuto's strength and speed, both as a catcher and batter, helped take him to his first All-Star appearance in 2018. That same year, Realmuto won his first Silver Slugger Award. The Marlins traded Realmuto to the Phillies in February 2019, and he received his second All-Star and Silver Slugger awards that year. Additionally, Realmuto received his first career Gold Glove Award for his performance in the 2019 season. When he became a free agent after the 2020 season, Realmuto's Phillies teammates and fans began using the phrase 'Sign J. T.' to pressure the Phillies into signing him to another contract. In January 2021, Realmuto and the Phillies agreed to a five-year, $115.5 million contract, the largest for any catcher in MLB history.

In Their Own Story

The sun was dropping behind the palm trees beyond the outfield wall, painting the diamond in long amber shadows. Molina crouched low, mitt forward, eyes tracking the slider that hung a half-inch outside. The batter lunged. The mitt snapped shut. He stood, turned, and fired to second in one smooth motion—no hesitation, no drama. The shortstop's glove caught the throw, the runner was out by a step, and the only sound was the soft thud of leather on leather. In the dugout, the manager nodded once. No one in the stands would ever know the name on the back of that gray jersey, but the pitcher who just walked off the mound would remember the steady voice in his ear: *Next pitch. Trust the zone.* That was the Marlins way—quiet, consistent, built one unglamorous play at a time.

Reader's Guide

Realmuto is a catcher known for his strength and speed. He made his MLB debut in June 2014 with the Miami Marlins and became their starting catcher in 2015. He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in February 2019. He has won multiple All-Star selections, Silver Slugger Awards, and a Gold Glove Award.

Did You Know?

• Realmuto set a national high school baseball record with 119 RBIs in 42 games as a senior.
• He was named the American Baseball Coaches Association National Player of the Year in 2010.
• Realmuto's five-year, $115.5 million contract with the Phillies in 2021 was the largest for any catcher in MLB history.