This is the last thing the Phillies need to deal with.
Catcher J.T. Realmuto left Friday’s game with what the team announced as a sprained right pinky finger. The injury happened in the top of the fifth inning when he doubled to end Rockies starter Austin Gomber’s bid for a perfect game.
Realmuto rounded second when he saw that nobody was around to cover the base. First baseman C.J. Cron quickly got to the ball and threw Realmuto out at third. The third baseman Ryan McMahon got Realmuto’s hand good on the tag. A trainer checked Realmuto’s hand out after the inning, went back out to catch the following inning and was replaced by Garrett Stubbs in the top of the seventh.
If Realmuto needs to go on the injured list, the Phillies will have to add another catcher to the 40-man roster. Rafael Marchan is currently on the 60-day injured list with a right hamate fracture and isn’t eligible to return until June.
Realmuto has been on a tear to start the season. He’s currently slashing .285/.305/.488/ with 16 extra-base hits.
Update 11:16 p.m. ET: Rob Thomson told reporters, including MLB.com‘s Todd Zolecki, that X-rays came back negative on Realmuto and that swelling on the pinky finger is down. He will likely not play tomorrow, but Thomson is “pretty confident” he’ll be back on Sunday.