The Phillies are set to activate shortstop Trea Turner from the 10-day injured list ahead of tomorrow’s game against the Padres, as confirmed by manager Rob Thomson (reported by Matt Gelb of The Athletic). Turner has been sidelined with a hamstring strain since early May.
Turner’s return is expected to further strengthen a Phillies team that has been dominant in the first half of the 2024 season. The Phillies boast an NL-best 47-23 record, with stellar performances across the board. They rank third in the majors in ERA (3.11), trailing only the Yankees and Orioles, and their offense, with a 110 wRC+, is tied for sixth with the Brewers. Achieving such success without Turner for the past six weeks is particularly impressive, given his strong performance before the injury.
In his 33 games before being placed on the IL, Turner was hitting .343/.392/.460 (145 wRC+) with 10 stolen bases out of 11 attempts. His excellent form stretches back to last year’s All-Star break. Despite a slow start in his first half-season with the Phillies, Turner finished strong, helping the team reach their second consecutive NLCS appearance. Since mid-July last year, Turner has posted a .309/.363/.522 slash line, translating to a 142 wRC+—ranking 17th among all major league hitters and trailing only a few elite middle infielders like Mookie Betts, Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson, Corey Seager, and Jose Altuve.
Turner’s return will be a significant boost for the Phillies lineup. While infielders Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, and Edmundo Sosa have performed well this season, Turner’s powerful bat will enhance the offense. Sosa, who filled in admirably at shortstop during Turner’s absence, hitting .280/.343/.512 in 138 plate appearances, will likely return to a bench role. Sosa’s performance includes a strong .286/.348/.524 line since taking over as the everyday shortstop. However, his recent slump in June (.216/.256/.324) indicates the timing might be right for Turner’s return.
Despite his relegation to the bench, Sosa’s exceptional .340/.426/.723 performance against left-handed pitchers suggests he will still get regular playing time against southpaws. He could spell Stott, who has struggled against left-handed pitching (.250/.357/.333), at second base or even contribute in the outfield, where he has occasionally played both left and center field.
To accommodate Turner’s return, the Phillies will need to adjust their active roster. Outfielder Johan Rojas, who has options remaining, is a potential candidate for demotion. The current bench also includes outfielder Christian Pache and veteran utility player Whit Merrifield.
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