\n Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto celebrates after a ninth-inning double, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo\/Matt Slocum) <\/p>\n
Since the start of June, Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto has been one of the more reliable hitters in baseball. He hit .276 over the final four months of the season, recording 25 extra-base hits and driving in 31 runs in 86 games.<\/p>\n
The Phillies went 96-66, posting MLB\u2019s second-best record and winning the National League East for the second year in a row. That set up a meeting with the defending World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> in the NL Divisional Series.<\/p>\n >> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<<\/a><\/p>\n Realmuto produced the first runs of the series, giving Philadelphia a 2-0 lead in Saturday\u2019s Game 1 with his first triple since opening day<\/a> in the second inning. However, the Dodgers rallied to score five unanswered runs in the sixth and seventh innings to win, 5-3.<\/p>\n TWO-RUN TRIPLE FOR J.T. REALMUTO!<\/p>\n THE @PHILLIES<\/a> STRIKE FIRST! #NLDS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/xXmCURKk5r<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n He delivered again during the team\u2019s ninth-inning rally on Monday night. With no outs and Alec Bohm on first, Realmuto ripped a double to left field and scored the final run in a 4-3 loss that put Philadelphia on the brink of elimination.<\/p>\n If the Phillies are going to keep their season alive, they\u2019re going to need more timely hitting from their three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner. As he\u2019s done throughout his 12-year MLB career, Realmuto will continue to lean heavily on his faith in God.<\/p>\n Realmuto has publicly discussed his faith throughout his career, and even hosted the Phillies\u2019 Faith and Baseball Night<\/a> alongside his life, Lexi, back in July. Knowing he is not defined by what happens on the field has helped the 34-year-old manage the highs and lows of a baseball season.<\/p>\n \u201cMy foundation is in Christ, it\u2019s not in who I am on the baseball field,\u201d he said at this year\u2019s event, via Philly Sports Network<\/a>. \u201c\u2026 If you focus on [baseball] and that\u2019s who your identity is, it\u2019s going to be really hard to stay consistent and stay peaceful and have joy in your heart. So for me, my foundation is Jesus. It\u2019s what He\u2019s done for me on the cross. And this out here is just a bonus.\u201d<\/p>\n Realmuto also shared part of his testimony and talked about the impact meeting Lexi had on his personal relationship with the Lord.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, God was going to church, it was doing the right thing,\u201d he said<\/a>. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t necessarily having a true, authentic relationship with Him. And until I met her, I didn\u2019t really know that. I didn\u2019t know I was missing something, but she showed me how much more there was to that. And I saw what she had in Jesus, and I wanted to chase that same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Realmuto and his family work hard to keep God at the center of everything they do. Faith is the foundation that keeps them grounded amidst all the chaos professional sports can bring.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing away, having good games, having bad games, life is just so up and down,\u201d he said<\/a>. \u201cThe one constant we have is Jesus. And as a family, we focus on that. And we make that our core value system, and it keeps us from riding the waves of life.\u201d<\/p>\n During an interview at last year\u2019s Faith and Baseball Night<\/a>, also with Lexi, Realmuto was asked how his faith helps him on the field. He explained that he sees a lot of players who turn baseball into an idol. Knowing he has a greater purpose allows him to keep everything in perspective.<\/p>\n \u201cI just have such a sense of peace knowing that no matter what happens out there on that field, that I\u2019m going to go home and be the best husband and be the best father I can be because of who Jesus is and because of what He\u2019s done for me,\u201d he said<\/a>. \u201cI can have that peace in knowing that\u2019s who I am, not what I do on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n That\u2019s not to say he doesn\u2019t want to succeed on the field, and do all he can to help Philadelphia get back to the World Series. Realmuto and the Phillies will take another crack at the Dodgers on Wednesday for Game 3 in L.A., which could be Realmuto\u2019s final game as a Phillie. A loss would end Philadelphia\u2019s season and make him an unrestricted free agent. First pitch is at 9:08 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n >> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<<\/a><\/p>\n RELATED STORIES:
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