There’s a Hole in J.T. Realmuto’s Tool Box
I don’t think J.T. Realmuto ever got enough credit for his remarkable season in 2022. It was easily the finest performance of his career. With 22 home runs, 21 stolen bases, and a 128 wRC+, in addition to his typical Gold Glove defense and trademark durability, he produced a personal-best 6.5 WAR, claimed All-MLB First Team honors for the second time and finished seventh in a stacked NL MVP race.
What made his 2022 season so impressive were the demographics of it all. We’re not talking about a center fielder in his 20s; Realmuto’s 6.5 WAR was the highest for a regular catcher age 31 or older since Javy Lopez in 2003. As a matter of fact, only four catchers have ever put up more WAR in a single season after their 31st birthday: Lopez, Gary Carter, Roy Campanella, and Josh Gibson.
Catcher | Season | Age | G | wRC+ | WAR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Josh Gibson | 1943 | 31 | 69 | 251 | 8.1 |
Roy Campanella | 1953 | 31 | 144 | 154 | 7.7 |
Javy Lopez | 2003 | 32 | 129 | 170 | 6.8 |
Gary Carter | 1985 | 31 | 149 | 139 | 6.7 |
J.T. Realmuto | 2022 | 31 | 139 | 128 | 6.5 |
Yogi Berra | 1956 | 31 | 140 | 139 | 6.4 |
Russell Martin | 2014 | 31 | 111 | 140 | 6.2 |
Jorge Posada | 2003 | 31 | 142 | 145 | 6.0 |
Elston Howard | 1964 | 35 | 150 | 129 | 6.0 |
Elston Howard | 1963 | 34 | 135 | 142 | 5.9 |
That same year, Realmuto also became the first backstop to qualify for the batting title in seven consecutive seasons since Jason Kendall in 2009. Only seven other catchers have accomplished that particular feat in the divisional era (1969-present): Jorge Posada, Mike Piazza, Carter, Lance Parrish, Ted Simmons, Johnny Bench, and Thurman Munson. Read the rest of this entry »