Phillies Place J.T. Realmuto on Injured List Amid Lower Back Injury and Roster Moves

The Philadelphia Phillies are preparing to place catcher J.T. Realmuto on the injured list due to a lower back issue, according to multiple reports citing team sources. The move comes as the Phillies continue to struggle through a difficult stretch, having lost seven consecutive games and sitting at 8-15 on the season.

Realmuto exited Saturday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves in the sixth inning after experiencing tightness in his lower back. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said following the 3-1 loss that Realmuto first tweaked his back in the second inning of Friday night’s 9-0 loss to the Braves, when he landed hard on his left knee while attempting to field a throw and was subsequently hit by Michael Harris II.

“Just kind of jammed his knee and jammed his back reaching for it,” Thomson explained, describing the sequence of events that led to Realmuto’s discomfort. The catcher did not return to the game, with Rafael Marchán taking over behind the plate in the seventh inning after stepping in to hit for Realmuto in the sixth.

Despite the injury, Thomson indicated he does not believe Realmuto will require an extended absence, stating he does not think the catcher will need a stint on the injured list if the issue resolves within a day or two. However, if more time is needed, Triple-A Lehigh Valley catcher Garrett Stubbs is expected to be recalled to take Realmuto’s place on the roster.

Stubbs, who served as Realmuto’s backup from 2022 to 2024 before spending most of the 2024 season with the IronPigs, was designated for assignment by the Phillies before Opening Day but cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A. Thomson identified Stubbs as the likely replacement and noted that Dylan Moore remains the team’s emergency catcher option.

Realmuto, now 35, has been one of baseball’s most durable catchers since joining the Phillies in 2019. Entering Saturday’s game, he had started 783 games at catcher, the most in MLB during that span, ahead of Los Angeles’ Will Smith (628). He has also caught 6,826 2/3 innings since 2019, again leading the league, with Smith second at 5,653 1/3 innings.

The injury adds to a list of minor setbacks for Realmuto this season, including a missed game earlier in April due to a bruised right foot — a rarity for the typically reliable backstop. Realmuto signed a three-year, $45 million contract extension with the Phillies in January, securing his services through the 2026 season.

The Phillies have not officially announced the injured list move as of the latest reports, but multiple outlets, including The Athletic and MLB.com, have confirmed the decision is imminent based on team sources. The club continues to evaluate Realmuto’s condition, with his availability for upcoming games uncertain pending further medical assessment.