J.T. Realmuto flashes his tools in multi-homer game
MIAMI -- Miami Marlins catcher JT Realmuto could hear third-base coach Lenny Harris telling him to stand as he approached home following a race around the diamond to start the fourth inning.
Realmuto, who earlier in a 6-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers blasted a solo homer over the left-field wall, would later record one of the inside-the-park variety on Tuesday night.
The 24-year-old backstop became the third player in franchise history to record an inside-the-park dinger in a multi-homer game. Hanley Ramirez (Sept. 27, 2006 vs. Cincinnati) and Derrek Lee (April 12, 2003 vs. Atlanta) were the only others to accomplish the feat.
He is the first catcher to collect both in the same game since Hall of Famer Gary Carter did so in 1980, per Elias.
On the season, the rookie has a .249 average with 17 doubles, six triples, nine homers and 41 RBI through 108 games. He took over as the everyday guy behind the plate in late April when the Marlins designated Opening Day starter Jarrod Saltalamacchia for assignment.
"That just speaks to who JT is," manager Dan Jennings said. "Very few catchers have the power-speed component. He's such a good athlete. For him to be able to do that and show his power there in the second and leave the ballpark and then he crushed that ball and it caromed the right way. ... It was a thing of beauty. Very few catchers possess that type of speed and athleticism to be able to run off an inside-the-parker. Big night for him."
Realmuto blasted a 91 mph first-pitch fastball from right-hander Taylor Jungmann for a leadoff long ball in the second to tied the ballgame at 2.
On a 2-2 offering from Jungmann to begin the fourth, Realmuto sent a 76 mph curveball to left-center field. It bounced high off the wall below the home run sculpture, rolling into center away from Domingo Santana.
Out of the box, Realmuto admitted to jogging because he thought the ball would be a home run or out since it stayed in the air for so long. It wasn't until he rounded first base that he picked up the pace. He felt sure he would notch the feat rounding second, but went to another gear passing third. Though Harris told him to stand, he slid into home since "I wasn't going to take any chance."
It marked his first multi-homer game of his career, which came in his 119th big-league appearance since making his debut on June 5, 2014. He couldn't recall hitting an inside-the-parker at any level entering Tuesday.
Dee Gordon notched the first inside-the-park homer in Marlins Park history on June 30 against the San Francisco Giants.
"It was fun," Realmuto said. "After I hit the first one it's nice to start the day off like that always getting some confidence going into the rest of the day. The second one was kind of luck -- honestly -- just the way it hit the wall. It was in the perfect spot. If it's one foot to the right the guy catches it and I'm out. Luckily it hit the wall and took a good bounce and far enough for me to get some momentum and run the bases."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
