A healthy return for Trea Turner could transform the Philadelphia Phillies into the top contenders in the National League this October. Turner, who led the league in hits and batting average before his hamstring injury on September 7, has been sidelined since then. Injuries that late in the season are a nightmare for any team, but Turner’s swift recovery has been encouraging.
On Wednesday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic shared a brief but positive update from Phillies manager Rob Thomson, who described Turner’s progress as “great.” Turner has been jogging at 50 percent, taking grounders, and hitting in the cage, signaling his quick rehab pace has even surprised the team.
With just nine regular-season games left, the Phillies are preparing for Turner’s return, potentially bringing him back to face live pitching soon. While Turner is expected to rejoin the active roster before the season ends, how many at-bats he gets may depend on the race for the batting title.
At the time of his injury, Turner was batting .305, leading competitors like Chicago Cubs’ Nico Hoerner (.303) and others chasing the top spot. More importantly, Turner is projected to be fully fit by the start of the Phillies’ postseason, which could make them the favorites in the NL given their strong lineup, depth, and playoff experience.
