The dropoff from Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner is hard to put into words.
Becoming the first Phillie since Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn in 1958 to win the National League batting title last season, with a .304 average, Turner has been everything but this season. Through 70 games, the Phillies’ $300 million player is hitting a career-worst .219, has the lowest on-base percentage of his career (.269) and is not hitting nearly as many line drives (19.7%-line drive percentage) that he’s used to (24.2%-career line drive percentage).
Turner’s struggles for the first two and a half months of the season could prompt a benching.
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly alludes that Trea Turner could get time off
After going 0-for-4 (his fourth 0-for in June) in the Phillies’ 4-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, interim manager Don Mattingly did not dismiss the notion that Turner could get some time off.
“It’s something we’ll look at and talk about,” Mattingly said postgame on Sunday. “Nothing really, other than Trea’s just not having success right now. When you’re not having success, it never looks good. I know Trea’s struggling to get it going, and all that, but you know, we’ll look at it day to day. Where he’s at over the next, probably let’s say two weeks to three [weeks], we’re going to try to start getting mixture guys getting off their feet a little bit. And Trea be possibly [being] one of those guys too.”
Once Mattingly took over after former manager Rob Thomson was fired, he opted to move Turner out of the leadoff spot to the two hole to light a spark. That hasn’t happened.
In 75 at-bats since dropping to the two spot, Turner’s batting average dropped eight points (.221 to .213), and his on-base percentage dropped 30 points (.274 leading off to .244).
Mattingly even considered dropping his three-time All-Star in the lineup, but didn’t have an answer on who would replace him. Left fielder Brandon Marsh — the Phillies best hitter, leading the team and is fourth in MLB in batting average (.322) — would be the best replacement, but the Phillies like a right-handed bat to break up their lefties Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.
Time off would benefit Turner, as Mattingly benched his infield mate, third baseman Alec Bohm, for two games to give him a reset. After Bohm’s reset (May 7 and 8), he had five multi-hit games and five home runs.
Despite his contract, Turner needs to get benched to get himself going and give the Phillies another threat in their order. If it worked for Bohm, it can work for Turner, as another standing ovation from the fans — the Phillies gave Turner one in 2023 after he had struggled — won’t work.