Veterans Jean Segura, J.T. Realmuto make postseason for first time

Philadelphia’s playoff baseball drought is over at last, and no Phillies player has waited as long for the moment as Jean Segura.

With longtime Seattle Mariner Kyle Seager retiring last winter, the 32-year-old Segura entered the season as the active leader in games played without making the postseason; his Phillies teammate J.T. Realmuto trailed just behind.

“They wanna get in badly,” interim manager Rob Thomson said on Monday. “Trust me.”

Later that night, they finally did as the Phillies defeated the Houston Astros 3-0 at Minute Maid Park to clinch a spot in the National League wild-card series.

With Kyle Seager retiring, Jean Segura becomes the active leader in games played without playing in the postseason. J.T. Realmuto is 2nd on the list. Maikel Franco is 3rd.

— Casey Feeney (@caseyfeeney66) December 29, 2021

Segura made his major-league debut in 2012, has made two All-Star appearances in his career and led the NL in hits in 2016. Now, in his 11th season, he adds a playoff appearance to his resume.

Realmuto, 31, has cemented himself as MLB’s top catcher since he made his debut for the Marlins in 2014 and was traded to the Phillies in 2019. The three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger and former Gold Glover will head into the postseason coming off one of the best seasons of his career with a 129 OPS+.

Right-hander Aaron Nola, the longest tenured current Phillie, tossed a gem in Monday’s victory to send his team to the postseason for the first time in his career. He’s been on the team since 2015.

First baseman Rhys Hoskins, a member of the Phillies since late in the 2017 season, enters the playoffs as the team’s longest tenured position player.

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