Before the start of the 2023 season, the Philadelphia Phillies made a splash in the offseason by signing superstar shortstop Trea Turner to a massive $300 million contract. Turner’s inaugural season with Philadelphia began at a slower pace, as he worked to adjust to his new team and surroundings, but he quickly found his rhythm and finished the year on a strong note. His performance earned him an All-Star nod last season, though this year he was notably left off the roster, a snub that many fans and analysts found surprising given his elite production.
Despite being overlooked for the All-Star Game, Turner has consistently been one of the premier players in the league in 2024. Entering Thursday’s play, he boasts a .295 batting average and leads the National League with 151 hits, a testament to his ability to put the ball in play and create offense. While he experienced a slight slump in July, hitting .268 over that stretch, Turner has rebounded impressively.
This month alone, he has posted a .914 OPS and is hitting .333, including an astonishing 21 hits over his last seven games—the most by any Phillies player in that span since 1930, according to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. Reflecting on his recent streak, Turner modestly said, “Consistency is nice,” highlighting his focus on maintaining steady performance rather than chasing accolades.
Turner’s case for All-Star recognition this year was strong, as were the cases of several of his teammates, yet he has responded not with complaint but with action, continuing to contribute at an elite level and helping Philadelphia rack up wins. As of Thursday, the Phillies hold the second-best record in the National League and the third-best in all of Major League Baseball—a position that would be difficult to imagine without Turner’s consistent offensive production and leadership on the field.
While his OPS is slightly down compared to last season, Turner still maintains a 116 OPS+, underscoring his value relative to the league. Over the course of his career, he has led all of baseball in hits twice and has the potential to do so again this year.
His accolades are extensive: a three-time All-Star, a Silver Slugger award winner, a batting champion, and a World Series champion. Now, Turner’s focus has shifted toward helping guide the Phillies on a deep playoff run, with the ultimate goal of reaching—and winning—the Fall Classic.
