J.T. Realmuto back in lineup
Starting catcher aims to boost run production
NEW YORK The toughest part for an injured player is the helpless feeling of being unable to help his teammates, particularly when they are in a losing rut.
Even after being hurt in a fluke incident early in spring training, J.T. Realmuto expected to be back by Opening Day. Instead he was doing catching drills and playing meaningless games in extended spring training while the undermanned Marlins staggered to a 4-12 start.
The starting catcher and offensive catalyst was finally in the lineup Tuesday, ready to make his 2018 debut against the Yankees, who were the opponent when he injured his back March 11 in Jupiter.
“Obviously, we’ve been struggling lately,” Realmuto said after he was activated before the finale of a twogame Interleague game. “But that’s just how the game goes. I hope to step in and be a little spark plug and kind of get the guys going a little bit.”
Realmuto was batting fifth Tuesday, in position to provide a proven bat behind clean-up hitter Justin Bour and to take some pressure off rookie Brian Anderson, who was in a 2-for-18 skid and dropped to sixth in the order.
The Marlins desperately need a boost from the career .280 hitter, who hit 17 homers and drove in 65 runs last season.
Marlins catchers were hitting .169 in the first 16 games, 13th of 15 in the National League and last in slugging percentage at .203. They collectively had four RBI and two extra-base hits, both doubles.
“It’s good to have him back because it puts guys kind of in their slots,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “It’s just less pressure on other guys. Obviously, right now we’ve had trouble scoring runs. So he can be a part of that — just another cog in the wheel. Looking forward to seeing what it looks like.”
Rookie Chad Wallach was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans, while Bryan Holaday (.179) and Tomas Telis (.222) are the other catchers on the active roster.
Beginning a long road trip, the Marlins are hopeful Realmuto can produce as he has in the past away from Marlins Park. Since the start of 2016, Realmuto has hit .333 (188-of-564) on the road, the second-highest road average in the NL and third-highest in the majors.
Although he has been out of the Marlins’ lineup for just over five weeks, Realmuto said he was able to maintain cardio and leg strength while recovering from the back bruise. He caught in extended spring games and then one game for High-A Jupiter before joining the Marlins in New York.
Realmuto hit a home run in his first at-bat for the Hammerheads and went 3-for-3 in that game. He was supposed to play Sunday in Daytona Beach, but the game was rained out.
He was hurt on a strange play in the exhibition game against the Yankees when catcher Gary Sanchez threw to pick Realmuto off second. Yankee secondbase prospect Gleyber Torres took the throw and his knee drove into Realmuto’s back.
“It was just kind of a perfect storm. He impacted me on my back in the worst possible way,” Realmuto said.
“Obviously, I wanted to get back a little faster, but the team did the right thing by me and kind of held me back a little bit and made sure that it was completely healed up before I started activities. I feel great and I’m good to go.”
Brinson