PHILADELPHIA — Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto is known throughout Major League Baseball by his initials, but to his family, he remains “Jake.” The nickname J.T. was given to him by his father and became popular during middle school when several teammates shared the name Jake. “J.T. was a nickname that my dad had given him and he was really the only one who called him that,” Realmuto’s sister, Ryan, explained. “But then when he got into middle school, he had a bunch of Jakes on his baseball team, and I think the coach or the other kids heard my dad calling him J.T. – and it just kind of grew from there.”
At home, however, family members still call him Jake or sometimes Jacob Tyler if he’s in trouble. His nieces and nephews know him as Uncle Jake. “J.T. was just never a thing for us,” Ryan said.
Realmuto’s path to baseball came despite a strong wrestling tradition in his mother’s family. His uncle John Smith won six consecutive world championships from 1987-92 and earned Olympic gold medals in 1988 and 1992. Many cousins wrestled, as did Realmuto himself until high school, but he chose baseball—the sport his father played at Southwest Missouri State.
“I just always loved baseball. I think it was something I kind of bonded with my dad over,” said Realmuto, whose Phillies lost an 8-0 game to the Reds at Great American Ball Park on Wednesday night.
His parents were present at all of his games growing up regardless of performance outcomes. “One thing I remember is my parents always being there at all my games, and how important that was to have them sitting in the stands,” Realmuto said. “Whether I had a good game or a bad game, they were there to hug me afterwards and take me for ice cream.”
Now a father of four himself, Realmuto looks forward to supporting his children’s activities in the future: “I definitely look forward to those days, for sure,” he said. “Obviously, I want to play this game as long as I can and I’m not done yet, but I know the kids are ready to have me home. And I’m looking forward to being able to be there and just be a dad — taking them to practice, sitting in the stands, watching them play.”
During recent road trips with the Phillies through Arlington, Cincinnati and Washington D.C., much of the parenting responsibilities fell on his wife Lexi at home with their four children ages two through seven.
“She’s an incredible woman and a great mother,” Realmuto said about Lexi’s efforts managing their household while he’s away playing baseball. “I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without her taking care of everything back home. So, I’m definitely appreciative of all she does for me.”
Ryan recalled their mother often handled transportation duties for J.T.’s sports activities while their father coached softball for her sisters: “We always liked to tease him about being a momma’s boy,” Ryan joked.
Even now as an accomplished professional athlete—three-time All-Star catcher with Gold Glove Awards and Silver Sluggers—family dynamics remain unchanged when he visits home.
“When he comes home, his siblings kind of put him back in his place,” David said. “He knows he’s the baby.”
“Nothing changes for our family as far as that goes,” Ryan added. “He is absolutely the baby.”
Realmuto credits his family’s support with keeping him grounded: “They’ve always been one to keep me humble. That’s just how my family works,” Realmuto said. “They do it in a loving way, but they’re there to let me know I’m not as good as I think I am…with my uncle winning gold medals…they’re unimpressed by anything I do.”
However, Ryan emphasized her pride is greatest seeing her brother’s role outside baseball: “Seeing Jake as a husband and a father is my greatest thrill as a big sister by far…Just the relationship he has with his wife and how he cares for her…and also how he fathers his four kids — and how awesome those kids are.”
David echoed similar sentiments: “I’m prouder of the man he is than the baseball player because he’s a great dad and he’s got a great wife…That’s the most important thing…It’s always been all about family.”
