Phillies Catcher J.T. Realmuto Says His Identity Is in Jesus, Not Baseball

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Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto recently shared that his identity and foundation are in Jesus Christ rather than in baseball.

Realmuto, who was featured as player of the week for the ministry Travel Chapel, shared an encouraging, faith-filled message for baseball players, Movie Guide reported.

“Chase after Jesus before you’re chasing after baseball. I think if your foundation in life is baseball or anything material that is fleeting, it’s not going to be good for you,” Realmuto.

“And in the long run, any of those things can fade. But the one constant and the one thing that’ll be here your whole life, and the one true love that you’ll know is going to be Jesus,” he continued. “So, chase after that with all your heart, and good things will come from that…[That] doesn’t mean you’re going to make to the big leagues, but He’s going to fulfill you and satisfy you.”

Although Realmuto believed in God growing up, he admitted he still operated under a works-based mentality in seeking God’s approval until his wife, Lexi, showed him that salvation is purely by God’s grace.

“I grew up believing in God my whole life, so I was a Christian. She showed me what it really meant to follow Jesus and to chase after His heart,” Realmuto added.

“I was kind of living more under the works-type of Christianity, like I was chasing after trying to do good things so that I could reach God, as opposed to like letting Him reach me and just be myself, receive the grace, and not try to chase after perfection because I was never going to live up to that.”

The couple hosted a faith-and-family night following the conclusion of a Phillies game back in May. The gathering, which sounded like a wonderful evening full of worshipping and praising the Lord, included a message, testimonies from fellow players and worship. Additionally, the Christian band, NEEDTOBREATHE, played at the event. 

Travel Chapel is a ministry where “baseball and faith intersect. Through real athletes and real stories, we inspire players, families, and fans to live with purpose, strength, and integrity on and off the field,” according to its website.

Photo Credit: ©Nicole Vasquez/Getty Images

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.