J.T. Realmuto is day-to-day with left ankle soreness after the Phillies star made an early exit from today’s 7-4 win over the Diamondbacks. Phillies manager Joe Girardi told reporters (including NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury) that Realmuto hurt his ankle during a fifth inning at-bat, which forced Realmuto be replaced in the field to begin the sixth inning.
The Phils can only hope that Realmuto’s injury isn’t too serious, as the All-Star is perhaps the indispensable member of the roster. Though Realmuto has been ticketed for most time at first base, he is still the team’s primary catcher, and his absence will further test a position already thinned by the absence of Andrew Knapp (positive COVID-19 test). Rafael Marchan is the only other available backstop, and the Phillies would have to create a 40-man roster spot to add the contract of Tyler Heineman from Triple-A.
More injury updates from around baseball…
- The Yankees announced that Gleyber Torres will begin a minor league rehab assignment today at Double-A Somerset. A left thumb sprain sent Torres to the 10-day injured list on August 9. Assuming no setbacks, New York manager Aaron Boone told ESPN’s Marly Rivera and other reporters that the hope is Torres can be activated when the Yankees begin a home series with the Orioles on Friday. While Torres has been hitting well since the All-Star break, his overall numbers haven’t been very impressive this year, with a .253/.328/.351 slash line and six home runs over 407 plate appearances.
- Shane Bieber threw a 36-pitch, up-and-down bullpen session on Friday, Indians pitching coach Carl Willis told The Akron Beacon Journal’s Ryan Lewis and other reporters. Bieber tossed another bullpen earlier this week and is in line for one more on Tuesday, and a simulated game could be the next step in Bieber’s rehab. The ace has been on the injured list since June 14 due to a shoulder strain, and while there is still a ways to go in Bieber’s recovery, he seems to be on pace to return to the mound before the season is through.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
Article lists Realmuto as the indispensable member of the roster. Seems to me Harper is having a pretty good year.
tstats
I would use an rather than the
Fever Pitch Guy
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
Cosmo2
Harper is polishing his HOF cred.
tstats
And something else 😉
Disjointed Team
It seems Harper is having a pretty good year because he is. He’s leading the league in OPS at 1.001 and OPS+ 173. HARPER IS THE ONLY GUY IN THE LEAGUE who could win the MVP, and people would still say he’s overrated.
Mickey777
No reason to rush Torres back with the way Wade and Vasquez are playing, Let him spend enough time in the minors until his bat is ready to produce at the major league level! The only contribution he can make to this team is offensive.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Nice.
Yanks are starting to get guys back faster than they are losing them. It looks like we may be close to full strength for September. Man. Since ’19 health has been such a huge problem.
When Cressey was brought on, Cash said it would be a three year process to completely overhaul the Yanks conditioning.
That would be the end of next season.
It might be starting to work early, however.
Injuries are one of the biggest stories of this season. But it seems like the Yankees have merely suffered their “fair share”. That seems to be a marked improvement to me.
& *if* we can (finally) get Gleyber back on track, this offense will be absolutely savage.
Joe says...
Just keeping Judge healthy is a huge step in the right direction.
I do wonder how much of the injuries are related to the short season last year.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Sure is, @Joe.
Giancarlo, too.
I don’t see how they couldn’t be. Even not counting all the Covid-19 IL placements, injuries are up about 50% since the ’19 season. Essentially, there are 5-10 squads going through what the Yanks went through that year.
I have no idea why. But the short season has to somehow be a factor, uh?
Disjointed Team
Realmuto has been the best catcher in the NL since he came in the league. Hopefully he’s not out too long.
TradeAcuna
Realmuto should and will start at 1st next season and beyond for the Phils. Hoskins is gone.
DarkSide830
gone where exactly?
Disjointed Team
Yeah, gone where? He’s still just ARB eligible. Hoskins will be there. Realmuto will still be the best catcher in the league behind the plate where he belongs.
brucebochyisthemarlboroman
There’s absolutely zero reason to unload Rhys if there is a DH in the national league next year aside from the billion other aforementioned reasons.
Phillls
Seriously?? He is getting paid 23 million a year to be an ‘elite’ catcher, not an average at best 1st baseman. He can’t match Hoskin’s production. A Tommy Joseph could put up the same numbers as Realmuto for a lot less money. Realmuto’s bad contract is going to hurt, haunt, and handcuff the Phillies big time….
DarkSide830
Realmuto is a better hitter than Joseph
Phillls
Not by much, and he doesn’t come close to the vast majority of other first basemen in baseball. He’s not even the ‘BCIB’ anymore.
DarkSide830
dont the Phillies have 40 space with Williams, Knapp, and Eflin on the Covid IL?
dasit
up until last year i would have said “yeah, right. see you in spring training” but now that the yankees have achieved something like competence in their conditioning department i actually believe torres will be back on friday
bucketbrew35
It’s all about that yoga for Stanton and Judge. It’s exactly what they needed.
Inside Out
Phillies Will have to dfa Bonifacio and call up another catcher. Can’t afford to risk merchant getting hurt since emergency catcher is torreyes
Phillls
Not by much, and he doesn’t come close to the vast majority of other first basemen in baseball. He’s not even the ‘BCIB’ anymore.
Bob333
Is this what we have to look forward to is Realmuto hurt all the time what a joke 25 million for
oft injured catcher for the next 6years.