A player who made headlines for signing a massive free-agent contract worth nearly $400 million is now in danger of becoming a ‘bust’.토토사이트
Philadelphia shortstop Trey Turner, 30, has had a solid baseball career so far. He broke into the big leagues with the Washington Nationals in 2015 and finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting after hitting .342 with 13 home runs, 40 RBIs and 33 stolen bases in just 73 games in 2016, then played in all 162 games in 2018, hitting .271 with 19 home runs, 73 RBIs and 43 stolen bases to win his first career batting title. In the shortened 2020 season, Turner hit .335 with 12 home runs, 41 RBIs and 12 doubles, and he increased his value by leading the National League in hits with 78.
His best season, however, came in 2021. After batting .328 with 28 home runs, 77 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases in 195 at-bats between Washington and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Turner swept the batting, RBI, and stolen base awards and was named his first All-Star. Last year, he hit .298 with 21 home runs, 100 RBIs, and 27 stolen bases, marking his first career 100-RBI season, while also winning a Silver Slugger.
As a free agent, Turner became the talk of the town when he signed a massive 11-year, $300 million contract with the Phillies. He also played for Team USA at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March, where he blasted five home runs, tying the record for most home runs in a WBC tournament held by Lee Seung-yeop in 2006.
However, his first season in Philadelphia was a disappointment. In 108 games, his batting average has dropped to .236, while his on-base percentage of .289 and slugging percentage of .367 don’t match his price tag. It’s August and he’s only managed 10 home runs, 35 RBIs and 21 stolen bases in the first season of an 11-year contract.
It wouldn’t be surprising if he was booed by the Phillies fans right now. Turner had the experience of a lifetime during the 2023 Major League Baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies, on Friday.
Batting eighth, Turner batted first with two outs in the bottom of the second inning, and the Philadelphia home fans in the stands gave him a standing ovation and chanted, “Let’s Go! Trea!” as they cheered him on. This continued every time Turner stepped to the plate.
The crowd gives Trey Turner a standing ovation as he steps up to the plate.
“Philadelphia fans stood and cheered, believing Turner could come back to life,” MLB.com said of the scene.
After the game, Turner said, “I think it’s awesome. The fans are behind me. It’s pretty cool to see that,” he said, adding, “Nobody wants to hear boos. Everyone always wants to be cheered, but that also means you have to play well,” he said, vowing to repay the fans for their support one day.
Turner wasn’t the only one thrilled by the scene. Turner’s mother was in tears as she watched her son compete. “My mom said she was in tears during my first at-bat,” Turner said. The fans made her happy,” Turner said.
Turner’s teammate, Nick Castellanos, joined the wave of support for Turner by waving a towel in the dugout. “That’s how a relationship is created between a player and a city,” Castellanos said of the Philadelphia fans cheering for Turner. Castellanos was also a newcomer to the Phillies last year, batting just .263 with 13 home runs and 62 RBIs. This year, however, he has already surpassed last year’s numbers, hitting .274 with 16 home runs and 65 RBIs.
As ‘MLB.com’ put it, “Turner has never been this sluggish in his life. His poor play is shocking considering he’s been one of the best players in recent years.” Turner hasn’t been able to break out of his slump. After going 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI in the game, Turner still has a long way to go in his resurgence. However, the faith and support of his fans has given him endless hope. Turner’s season isn’t over yet, and there’s plenty of time for him to make a comeback.