Phillies’ catcher J.T. Realmuto expects to be ready for opening day

The Phillies could have one less roster decision to worry about as all signs now point to J.T. Realmuto being ready for the season opener.

Realmuto made his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday night, catching Zack Wheeler five weeks after Realmuto fractured his right thumb on the first day of spring training. He homered in his first at-bat and played the first six innings of a 9-3 Grapefruit League loss to Toronto.

A return by April 1′s opening day always felt difficult, but it is now practical with Realmuto’s return to the lineup. Phillies manager Joe Girardi expressed confidence that Realmuto will be ready. Realmuto said he has no doubt.

“But it’s not only my decision,” Realmuto said. “If the organization feels like I have enough at-bats and I’m game ready. Health wise, I think I’ll definitely be ready. It’s up to them if performance-based I’m ready. But I’m pretty confident I will be.”

Realmuto is scheduled to play Wednesday as the designated hitter in a simulated game before playing in another Grapefruit League game on Thursday against the Yankees. He will have an X-ray later this week to make sure his thumb is continuing to heal.

After Tuesday, the Phillies have six spring games remaining before they open the season on April 1 at Citizens Bank Park against Atlanta.

“We are definitely getting healthier,” Girardi said. “It’s just nice to see people coming back.”

» READ MORE: Phillies’ bullpen picture coming into focus as decisions loom

The underwhelming competition in centerfield could receive a late entrant as Adam Haseley is expected to start Wednesday in centerfield, less than three weeks after he was practically ruled out for the rest of spring training following a groin strain.

Haseley’s recovery was ahead of schedule, which gives him a chance to pass Roman Quinn, Scott Kingery, and Odubel Herrera for the starting job in centerfield. Kingery has struck out 14 times this spring in 33 plate appearances while Quinn is hitting .321 but has 11 strikeouts. Herrera is hitting just .222 and is not yet on the 40-man roster.

“It depends on how he feels and what his at-bats are like ‚” Girardi said of Haseley. “We’re not going to rush anybody. We have to make sure guys are ready to go. Obviously, he was playing pretty well before the injury and we’ll see where he’s at.”

Haseley and Kingery can both be optioned to triple A while Quinn would first need to pass through waivers. Herrera’s status allows him to start the season in the minors without a transaction if the Phillies don’t add him to the roster.

They will likely add at least three non-roster players - relievers Tony Watson and Brandon Kintzler and utility player Matt Joyce - to the roster this month and adding Herrera will force them to trim a fourth player. Setting this year’s roster is more complicated than recent seasons.

“We know it’s going to be tough,” Girardi said.

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Zach Eflin and Spencer Howard will pitch Wednesday in a simulated game as they recover from back injuries...Vince Velasquez (oblique injury) will pitch Thursday...Girardi said utilityman Brad Miller “did a little bit of everything” on Tuesday and is making progress from his oblique injury but his status remains uncertain for the opener...Ivan Nova will start Wednesday against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla.