J.T. Realmuto injury: How long will the Phillies’ catcher be out for?

Philadelphia Phillies president Dave Dombrowski says he expects J.T. Realmuto to be sidelined until around mid-July, as the catcher prepares to undergo knee surgery.

Philadelphia confirm Realmuto surgery

Realmuto, who has been playing through the pain in recent weeks, is to have meniscectomy surgery on his right knee tomorrow, the Phillies announced earlier today. Speaking to NBC Sports Philadelphia, Dombrowski said he anticipates an injury absence of “about a month” for the 33-year-old.

“I’d rather get it done now” - Phillies chief

“He developed a little bit more persistent pain,” Dombrowski said of Realmuto, who has been with the Phillies since 2019 and is a three-time All-Star.

“We thought he might be able to play his way through it, but then really, before we left on this road trip is when he kind of expressed [a desire to have surgery], and then [the Phillies’ head athletic trainer] Paul Buchheit said, ‘I think that we should probably get this thing done at this time.

“It should be a about a month that he’ll be out. I’d rather get it done now, get it taken care of and know he’s coming back, rather than it stir up later in the year and then have to do it at an inopportune time right down the stretch.”

The 45-20 Phillies take on the Red Sox today in the second of a triple-header of clashes in Boston, before three road clashes against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

A team that is currently leading the National League’s 2024 regular-season standings, the Phillies last won the NL championship two years ago and were runners-up in 2023. The Pennsylvanians haven’t been crowned World Series champions since 2008.