The Philadelphia Phillies suffered a narrow 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night, but the bigger concern came late in the game when catcher J.T. Realmuto had to leave due to an injury. In the bottom of the ninth inning, a foul ball off the bat of Bo Bichette struck Realmuto in the groin area—an especially painful spot for any player, particularly a catcher.
Despite the discomfort, Realmuto managed to walk off the field under his own power after a few minutes, which was seen as a positive sign. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Realmuto told him he’s experienced worse, but the team will monitor his condition closely. He was being examined by doctors postgame and will be re-evaluated the next day.
Rookie pitcher Mick Abel, who made a solid start for the Phillies that night, expressed sympathy for his catcher, calling the injury something “you never want to see.” Abel acknowledged he couldn’t fully relate to the pain, but could only imagine how difficult it must have been for Realmuto to take that kind of hit.
Realmuto went 1-for-3 at the plate in the game and has struggled offensively this season, batting just .226 with five home runs. However, he remains one of the most respected and reliable defensive catchers in the league. If he’s unable to play in Thursday’s series finale, backup Rafael Marchan is expected to start behind the plate.
The Phillies, currently holding a 37-24 record and second place in the NL East, will look to bounce back in the finale against Toronto before heading to Pittsburgh for a weekend series. Left-hander Jesús Luzardo is scheduled to start in Thursday’s game. Realmuto’s status remains day-to-day as the team hopes for a quick recovery.
