The Real Reason Behind Trea Turner’s Recent Hot Streak
By Tyler Maher
It took him most of the season, but Trea Turner has finally arrived.
For the first four months of the season, Turner was one of the worst hitters in baseball. It certainly wasn’t what the Phillies were expecting after signing him to an 11-year, $300 million contract last offseason.
Since early August, however, Turner has been a totally different player. He’s back in All-Star form and is one of the hottest hitters in the game right now.
And for that, Phillies fans can thank themselves.
Since August 4 when Phillies fans gave Trea Turner a standing ovation in an attempt to turn his struggles around, Turner’s hitting .353 with a 1.007 OPS. Over that span, he leads the team in hits (24), doubles (6), and total bases (42). pic.twitter.com/tlLJDy6VMi
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) August 23, 2023
Trea Turner Hot Streak
When Turner hit rock bottom earlier this month, there were calls (including on this site) to support Turner rather than boo him. He desperately needed a boost, and jeering him was only going to make things worse.
While Philly fans aren’t typically known for their warmth or hospitality, they delivered. When Turner came to the plate for his first at-bat on Aug. 4 mired in a hellish 3-for-36 slump, Phillies fans welcomed him with a standing ovation.
Turner responded by going 1-for-4 with an RBI — his first ribbie since July 15. Even though Philadelphia lost that day, the crowd seemed to take some of the pressure off by letting him know they were behind him. Turner quickly thanked Phillies fans for their support via 12 digital billboards across the city.
Before Aug. 4, Turner was batting .235/.290/.368 (.657 OPS). Since then, he’s slashing .343/.385/.630 (1.015 OPS) and has at least one hit in 16 of 18 games. What a turnaround!
Largely thanks to Turner, the Phillies have gone 10-8 during that stretch. They now control the top Wild Card spot in the National League and have an 89.1% chance to make the postseason, according to Baseball-Reference.
There’s still a ways to go, but it seems that Turner has fixed whatever was wrong with his swing, or at least gotten his confidence back. He’s back to destroying baseballs and being a force in the lineup, and Phillies fans deserve some credit for that.
And Phillies fans can get rewarded for doing such a good deed. Caesars Sportsbook’s newest offer will let you pocket a $250 guaranteed bonus. You just need to place a single $50 bet to claim your full $250, and every cent of that bonus pays out whether your original bet wins or not. This offer expires soon though, so cash in now before it’s too late!