Former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher on Trea Turner: "He is everything you could want"
Trea Turner enters his ninth season in the majors with a lot of buzz around his name. The Philadelphia Phillies signed the highly touted shortstop as a free agent this offseason on a colossal 11-year, $300 million contract. The deal looks like a steal for one of MLB's elite players.
At 29-years-old, Turner is just hitting his stride. The two-time All-Star has developed into one of the league's leading offensive players. He regularly hits close to .300 and his home run production over the second half of his career has significantly improved.
According to former Phillies pitcher Brad Lidge, Trea Turner is due for a big season in Philadelphia:
"He is everything you could want...this is the best offensive season coming up that he will have"
Turner finished with an impressive .298/.343/.466 slash line last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He recorded 21 home runs and 100 RBIs and helped lead the club all the way to the National League Division Series.
There's a reason Trea Turner is the consensus #1 shortstop on the #MLBNRTopTen list.
#Phillies | @Phillies https://t.co/Uz057bMQcm
"There's a reason Trea Turner is the consensus #1 shortstop on the #MLBNRTopTen list. #Phillies | @Phillies" - MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM
The move to Citizens Bank Park should improve the infielder's numbers. The stadium is regarded as one of MLB's hitter-friendly ballparks.
Batting alongside All-Stars such as Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber also has its advantages. Last season, the Phillies ranked sixth in the league in home runs (205). They ranked seventh in total runs (747).
Brad Lidge believes Trea Turner has a realistic shot at the prestigious 30/30 club next season
Lidge went as far as to say that Turner has a shot at becoming a member of the 30/30 club. The 30/30 refers to a player who has hit 30 home runs and has 30 stolen bases in the same season.
"I think its more likely than not that Trea Turner has a 30/30 season"
The 30/30 is a great measure of a player's ability to combine power and speed. Per Baseball Almanac, only 43 players in the history of the National League have achieved this impressive feat. Only 21 players in the history of the American League are members of the club.
Trea Turner extends his hitting streak to 19 games with a home run! https://t.co/2WuThtrebP
"Trea Turner extends his hitting streak to 19 games with a home run!" - Talkin' Baseball
In 2021, Turner came shockingly close to reaching the mark. He finished with 28 home runs and 32 stolen bases. That year, he played in only 148 games.
If Turner can stay healthy, a shot at 30/30 is a realistic possibility. He will aim to join a very select group consisting of some of baseball's greatest players. Backed by a potent offense and hitter-friendly ballpark, the sky is the limit for one of MLB's elite hitters.