At the start of the World Baseball Classic, before facing the biggest No. 9 hitter in the tournament, Trea Turner had a chat with JT Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber. Team USA and the Philadelphia Phillies teammates discussed spring training numbers. He told them he hadn’t been home during show season for four or five years.
“It’s kind of funny how it works,” Turner said, “but I don’t ask questions.”
The funny thing is that Turner has become a prolific hitter in a different setting in March.
After turning once in his four pool games for Team USA, former Dodgers shortstop Turner started the eighth inning of America’s 9-7 quarterfinal victory over Venezuela on Saturday-evening. He followed up that memorable moment—calling it the biggest win of his career—with two more home runs and four RBIs in Team USA’s 14-2 victory over Cuba in a Sunday night semifinal.
“What a fun team with Trea Turner in ninth,” commented American starter Adam Wainwright.
Turner went seven for 19 with a 1,429 on base plus slugging percentage and set multiple records in that tournament. The four home runs are the most for an American player in a WBC. The 10 RBI stands with Ken Griffey Jr. at the top. (2006) and David Wright (2013). He is the first player in WBC history with four RBIs in consecutive games.
“I don’t know about those things,” Turner said.
He also joined Team USA, beating Coach Griffey as the only American player with two home runs in a WBC game.
“I can’t wait to tell him,” Turner said. “I didn’t know that, but I can’t wait to have this conversation with him in the cage tomorrow. I’ll enjoy it.”
The 29-year-old gymnast has already played in strong competitions. He has 43 postseason games and a World Series title with the Washington Nationals on his resume. But he didn’t duplicate his skills in the October regular season, hitting .238 with three home runs and .614 OPS in 197 career playoff plate appearances.
That doesn’t change the fact that Turner, a batting champion and two-time All-Star, is one of the best positional players in the majors. He has a rare combination of speed and power at a top position. Therefore, the Dodgers acquired him from the Nationals along with Max Scherzer for the 2021 season. That’s why the Phillies signed him to an 11-year, $300 million contract in December. And that’s why he was the starting shortstop for the strongest lineup ever assembled for an international baseball league.
“I think he’s one of the best players in the game,” said Team USA manager Mark DeRosa. “I honestly think so. I mean, the Phillies gave him $300 million for a reason. That guy can play flat.”
Turner excelled in 9th place in his last two games, beating his typical March performance by a mile for the baseball world, having never finished ninth as a pro. Without him, the Americans will not be in the final against Japan or Mexico on Tuesday, depending on which team wins the semifinals on Monday. With him they are just one win away from their second WBC title in a row.
“Every time he went deep, I said, ‘Who’s the idiot that beats him in ninth place?’ DeRosa said. “But that’s the way this series is put together. So I’ll leave him alone now.”
Source: LA Times