The Philadelphia Phillies are getting ready to take the field at Citizens Bank Park for Game 3 of the 2022 World Series.
Their starting catcher, JT Realmuto got some good news before the play ball voice.
MLB announced Realmuto as the National League Gold Glove award winner at the catcher position.
It’s a great achievement for Realmuto and above all things, thoroughly deserved.
“BCIB goes GOLD. Congratulations to J.T. Realmuto on winning his 2nd Gold Glove Award!,” the Phillies official Twitter account posted on Tuesday afternoon.
BCIB goes GOLD.
Congratulations to J.T. Realmuto on winning his 2nd Gold Glove Award! pic.twitter.com/GNSr2fZzcO
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) November 1, 2022
In case you were wondering, BCIB means “best catcher in baseball.”
There are lots of great backstops in the major leagues: Alejandro Kirk, Will Smith, and rookie sensation Adley Rutschman are a few examples.
When we consider offensive ability, defense, baseball smarts, and the underrated speed and athleticism elements, Realmuto has no rivals in the league.
An Underrated Star
This is his second Gold Glove award after taking it home in 2019, too.
Realmuto finished the 2022 campaign with 11 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and 1.1 Framing Runs.
He is about as skilled as they get when it comes to calling a baseball game and guiding his pitching staff to success, and understanding the pitches that are needed to retire tough hitters.
Ever since he came to Philadelphia in 2019, he has led by example and been a vocal clubhouse presence.
You could say having a catcher like Realmuto has an impact on the pitching staff and the team as a whole.
Thanks to his excellent offense (.815, 22 home runs, 21 stolen bases) and awesome skills behind the plate, Realmuto posted 6.5 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in 2022, the highest mark of his career.
He is a top, underrated player.