The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to be without shortstop Trea Turner for at least a short period of time—and that absence may not necessarily be a negative.
Turner was forced out of Monday night’s 7–0 win over the Miami Marlins after being hit on the right wrist by a pitch from Marlins right-hander William Kempner in the sixth inning. He was diagnosed with a right wrist contusion, and X-rays showed no structural damage.
After the game, interim manager Don Mattingly said Turner was dealing with soreness and would be re-evaluated. While the three-time All-Star is unlikely to be in the lineup Tuesday, a final decision had not yet been made, particularly with Alec Bohm sitting out Monday after being described as “banged up.”
A break that could help
No one wants to see a player injured, but in Turner’s case, the situation may finally give the Phillies an opportunity to give him some much-needed rest. Heading into Monday, there were already questions about whether he should sit following a difficult series against Milwaukee.
Turner went just 1-for-13 with six strikeouts in the three-game set against the Brewers and finished the six-game road trip—including games against Toronto—hitting 3-for-26 with 10 strikeouts. His struggles dragged his season batting average down to .216, along with a .594 OPS, despite being a two-time batting champion.
Next men up
If Turner misses a few games, Edmundo Sosa is expected to fill in at shortstop. Sosa has been the Phillies’ most reliable bench bat this season, hitting .231 with a .647 OPS, and has already logged nine appearances at shortstop.
If Turner’s absence stretches longer, the Phillies’ infield depth will be put to the test. Christian Cairo is the only infielder on the 40-man roster without major league experience. The 25-year-old has performed well at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, batting .257 with a .730 OPS while stealing 19 bases.
With Bohm expected to return Tuesday, Sosa—who filled in at third base—would likely slide over to shortstop if Turner is ultimately kept out of the lineup for Game 2.