Phillies Superstar Putting 'Brutal' Defensive Season Behind Him
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Coming off their disappointing loss in the 2022 World Series, the Philadelphia Phillies decided to push all their chips into the middle when signing Trea Turner to an 11-year, $300 million contract.
The two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger winner was seen as the potential missing piece that could push them over the edge.
Turner had proven to be one of the best hitters in baseball during his eight years in the MLB before joining the Phillies.
However, his tenure got off to a nightmarish start.
He looked completely lost at the plate, a shell of the player that was over 25 percentage points better than the average hitter during his time with the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers.
On top of his poor offensive performance, Turner also struggled on defense, finishing with an MLB-high 23 errors.
It was easily the worst defense he’s had in his career after previously owning a defensive bWAR value of 5.5 before his first year in Philadelphia.
Turner didn’t mince words when discussing his defense last year with reporters, calling it “brutal.”
But he’s ready to put this past season in the rearview mirror.
According to John Clark of NBC Philadelphia, the superstar said he “was probably trying too hard and trying to do too much.”
Pressure comes in all forms when signing a massive contract with a new team. Internal pressure to prove oneself and show that they deserve their deal is a tale as old as time. The fans also expect their high-priced player to constantly perform at their peak.
When Turner was at the height of his struggles, the Phillies fans embraced him with a standing ovation that turned around his performance at the plate late in the year.
Offense has rarely been an issue for the superstar and he probably will bounce back in 2024.
He wants to showcase that he can be elite defensively, saying, “he is a better defensive player than he has been the last few years” and “knows he can get the job done and get outs for his pitchers.”
If Turner is able to produce at an MVP level like he’s shown in the past, Philadelphia will boast one of the scariest lineups in the MLB once again with improved defense.