National League catcher J.T. Realmuto of the Philadelphia Phillies (right) celebrates with center fielder Bryan Reynolds of the Pittsburgh Pirates after hitting a home run against the American League during the fifth inning of the 2021 MLB All Star Game at Coors Field. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: J.T. Realmuto hits first HR for the Phillies in All-Star Game in 40 years

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Vincent Frank | Last updated 7/13/21

J.T. Realmuto is among the best backstops in Major League Baseball. Gregory Soto of the Detroit Tigers found that out first-hand in the fifth inning of Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game at Coors Field in Colorado.

With the American League up 4-0, Realmuto took a Soto pitch deep with a 430-foot blast over the right field fence to put the National League on the board.

JAWN. TORCHED.#AllStarGame | #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/n9k7VbfROq
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 14, 2021

In a surprising piece of information, Realmuto is the first Philadelphia Phillies player to hit a homer in the All-Star Game since Mike Schmidt back in 1981. That’s 40 years without a long ball from this organization in the Midsummer Classic.

A three-time All-Star, Realmuto entered the break hitting .269 with eight homers and 34 RBI for a Phillies team that sits at 44-44 and in second place in the National League East.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

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