The Phillies just got a massive shot in the arm—and his name is Trea Turner. After sitting out most of September, nursing a Grade 1 hamstring strain, the All-Star shortstop made his return just in time for the postseason sprint. And let me tell you—this isn’t just any guy coming off the IL. This is the National League batting champ.
Turner Makes History with NL Batting Title
Turner finished the 2025 regular season with a smooth .304 average, becoming the first Phillie to take home the batting crown since Richie Ashburn in 1958. That’s almost seven decades of Phillies history getting dusted off with Turner’s name etched in. And let’s not skip past this: he didn’t just win it, he earned it. Nico Hoerner gave him a run, but Turner held firm.
Now, he’s not going to walk away with the MVP trophy—that’s probably heading elsewhere—but don’t be surprised when you see his name in the Top 10. His numbers are legit. Second in hits, fourth in stolen bases, sixth in triples, 16th in OPS, and a defensive turnaround that has Gold Glove potential written all over it.
Defensive Turnaround Adds to Turner’s Case
And listen, about that defense—because this is where it gets real. In 2024, Turner’s glove was, well… let’s just say “less than ideal.” We’re talking -16 defensive runs saved and 17 errors. But this year? Huge rebound. He cut the errors down to eight and turned in a positive DRS. That’s not just improvement, that’s a transformation—and the timing couldn’t be better.
Here’s where things get spicy for October. Trea Turner is the Phillies’ spark plug. The leadoff man. The one who can start a rally with a single, steal second, and rattle a pitcher before the second batter even steps in. Add to that his postseason chops—a .265 average and .730 OPS in 32 NLDS games—and it’s clear this guy doesn’t blink when the pressure’s on.
Phillies Postseason Lineup Looks Dangerous
With Turner leading the charge, followed by Schwarber, Harper, and Bohm, that’s a gauntlet. Pair it with a sneaky-good starting rotation—Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suárez, and Jesús Luzardo—and Jhoan Duran locking things down in the ninth? Philly’s cooking with high heat.
The Phillies aren’t just hoping to make noise in the postseason—they’re built to do it. And with Trea Turner healthy and heating up, they might just run the table.
