Phillies Batting JT Realmuto Leadoff is Looking Like a Real Possibility
By Jack Murphy
Very seldom do we see a catcher batting in the leadoff spot. Usually, the leadoff hitter is one of the fastest players on the team who runs the bases well. MLB catchers are generally far from the premiere runners as their legs take on wear-and-tear from catching nine innings.
The Philadelphia Phillies are breaking the mold, and may try out JT Realmuto as their leadoff hitter come Opening Day.
The Phillies have used a catcher as their leadoff hitter just once since 1904, when the player left the field in handcuffs. They might try it again in 2020 with J.T. Realmuto. Hopefully it works out better 116 years later. https://t.co/adux6im8B9
— Matt Breen (@matt_breen) March 6, 2020
Realmuto is one of the best catchers in the MLB and with Andrew McCutchen not expected to be ready by the start of the season, the 28-year-old might be the Phillies best leadoff option. He registered a .328 OBP last season which was only behind the power bats of Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins on the team. Realmuto also is a surprisingly good base runner as he logged nine stolen bases in 2019.
JT Realmuto had a higher sprint speed than 25 center fielders and 54 left fielders last season. ?
— Daren Willman (@darenw) February 7, 2019
https://t.co/hL0IksC4yx pic.twitter.com/kCUCGDiHh6
This would be the only the second time the Phillies used a catcher as their leadoff hitter since 1904, simply because backstops rarely have great wheels, or create consistent contact for that matter.
Realmuto can strike fear in the eyes of a pitcher right out of the gate, and he has the right mixture of contact, speed and power to become a very successful leadoff hitter in the bigs.