The Realmuto World
J.T. Realmuto (PHI): 3-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 7 RBI.
It’s been a rough decline for J.T. Realmuto since 2022.
After hitting 22 HR, collecting 84 RBI, and posting a .820 OPS in 2022, Realmuto has seen his numbers decline over the next two seasons. In 2023, he hit 20 HR, collected 63 RBI, and posted a .762 OPS.
This season, his regression has been even more evident. In 76 games and 324 plate appearances, he has only hit 10 HR, collected 35 RBI, and seen his OPS fall to .735. That OPS would be his lowest number in that category since 2015, when he was in his second year in the league with the Marlins.
On Saturday, though, Realmuto looked like his vintage self against the Royals in an 11-2 Phillies win. The 33-year-old catcher had three hits, two home runs, and collected seven RBI. Royals pitchers had no solutions for Realmuto, and thus, the Phillies could cruise to an easy and much-needed victory in Kauffman Stadium on Saturday night.
When examining Realmuto’s metrics, his profile looks much more optimistic, making him a candidate for a solid finish to the 2024 season. His xwOBA ranks in the 64th percentile, and his hard-hit rate ranks in the 73rd percentile. Those rankings are better than his marks in those categories a season ago. He’s also striking out less and walking slightly more than in 2023, which is another positive sign that Realmuto is at least showing a better approach at the plate.
Likely, Realmuto won’t match the 20-HR mark this year, the first time since 2021 he didn’t reach that critical HR benchmark. However, the Phillies already have power and production in the middle of the lineup with Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Alec Bohm. At the very least, the Phillies need Realmuto to channel his 2023 self and provide above-average production at the bottom of the lineup.
Phillies fans hope his big Saturday night against the Royals will be a step in that direction for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Saturday.
Seiya Suzuki (CHC): 3-5, 3B, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, BB.
Suzuki hit his 17th and 18th home runs of the year and collected four RBI in the Cubs’ 14-2 blowout of the Marlins in Miami. Suzuki seems to be on pace to surpass the 20 HRs he hit in 2023, as his barrel rate of 12.1% is 1.6% higher than a year ago. His defense remains a question (he ranks in the 29th percentile in fielding run value), but he’s proving to be a critical bat for a Cubs team looking to make a playoff push in September.
Trevor Larnach (MIN): 3-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI.
Larnach has had a career season this year with the Twins, hitting 14 home runs, a new career high. In addition to adding to his HR totals on Saturday, he collected four RBI, upping his season total to 42. A big key to Larnach’s success this year is cutting the strikeouts. After striking out 34% of the time in 2023, he has lowered that K rate to 21.4% this season.
Jhonkensy Noel (CLE): 3-5, 2B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI.
Noel often whiffs (29.3% whiff rate) and strikes out (29.8%). And yet, Noel continues to hit, which keeps him in the Guardians’ lineup. On Saturday against the Rangers, Noel hit his 11th home run of the season and collected three RBI. He is hitting .266 with a .946 OPS in 121 plate appearances this year. Considering Cleveland’s hitting woes since the All-Star break, Noel should be a mainstay in the Guardians lineup.
Jake Cave (COL): 4-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
The Rockies dampened “Old-Timers’ Day” at Yankee Stadium as they beat the Yankees 9-2. Cave was one of the offensive catalysts in Colorado’s seven-run victory as he had four hits, three RBI, scored two runs, and hit his seventh home run of the year. Cave is not a great player for fantasy purposes. He doesn’t hit for power, doesn’t collect stolen bases (five), and while his average is strong (.262), it’s not eye-popping by any means.
Brent Rooker (OAK): 3-4, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB.
The “Summer of Brent” continues. On Saturday, he hit his 30th home run of the season, tying his 2023 mark. He is also hitting .289 with a .935 OPS, a significant improvement from a season ago. Rooker should be in Oakland for the remainder of the season, but one has to wonder if, this offseason, the A’s will look to capitalize on his value in the trade market.
Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB.
Crow-Armstrong has been on a tear in August. This month, he is hitting .302 with a .981 OPS in 71 plate appearances. He also hit four home runs in August, one more than his HR totals from April through June combined. Crow-Armstrong has always been known for his glove, but his strong month and Saturday hints that there may be more in store for him offensively in the future.
Matt Vierling (DET): 2-3, 2B, HR, 3 R, RBI, BB.
Vierling set the tone for the Tigers from the leadoff spot as he collected two hits, scored three runs, and hit his 15th home run. Vierling has been sneakily effective for a Tigers team that has disappointed this season. He is hitting .258 with a .745 OPS and could push toward the 20-HR mark if he can have a strong finish in September.
Jake Bauers (MIL): 1-3, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB.
It was a classic Bauers performance: he only had one hit, but he got on base (two walks) and hit for power (a home run). Bauers is only hitting .205 for the season, which isn’t great. However, he has 11 home runs and has a .709 OPS in 276 plate appearances. That’s not a bad asset for the Brewers to utilize off the bench.
Elly De La Cruz (CIN): 3-4, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB.
After blowing it on Friday, the Reds handled the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Saturday by a score of 10-2. De la Cruz had another big night in the Cincinnati win as he had three hits, scored three runs, and stole his 61st base of the season. It’s been a season of growth for De La Cruz as he has improved his batting average by 31 points and his OPS by 128 points. He should be a top-5 pick in most league formats next draft season.