Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto was named the National League Player of the Week on Monday.
Realmuto had a huge week for the Marlins and is one of the main reasons for the team's current place in the standings. The young catcher hit .500 with two home runs, while also knocking in six runs. Realmuto also tripled and doubled, which helped him post an astronomically high 1.451 OPS.
Miami is 3-3 on the season, even after a rough 0-2 start. The Marlins were able to steal a series in New York from the Mets, due to excellent pitching and timely hitting. Realmuto had a hand in both of those aspects as Miami's everyday catcher.
This is Realmuto's third season as Miami's primary catcher and he is off to his best start yet. Realmuto amassed a total of 11 home runs in 509 at-bats last season. While his pace will undoubtedly slow, Realmuto could shatter that total this season.
Over four years, Realmuto has a career average of .286 with an on-base percentage of .322. If the 26-year old can improve on those numbers, he could be one of Miami's main offensive weapons for years to come. Realmuto is under team control until 2021 and is a candidate for an extension.
Finding a dependable backstop had been an issue for the Marlins in recent history. The Marlins have had a revolving door of sorts behind the plate, with few exceptions such as Charles Johnson. Several free agent signings have failed to pan out, as have young prospects.
Realmuto and the Marlins will next play on Tuesday in Miami against the Atlanta Braves.
