Aug 18, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (7) celebrates his three-run home run during the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Eric Hartline
As Trea Turner reached first base in the bottom of the second inning of Monday's 12-7 Phillies win over the Seattle Mariners, he held his arms up as if to say "Finally!"
Trea Turner felt a weight come off of his shoulders with his first home run at Citizens Bank Park this season 😂
(Via @aokstott)
pic.twitter.com/j4CSLVG5Iz
— On Pattison (@OnPattison) August 18, 2025
It would have been a reasonable response considering it was the 1,500th hit in what's been an excellent career for Turner. But Turner said postgame that the reaction at first base was in response to him finally hitting his first home run at Citizens Bank Park this season, not recording a milestone hit.
"It was for the homer," Turner said. "It's been a minute. Right now, I don't trust anything if I hit a ball good. I don't trust it until it goes over that wall."
Most players aren't eager to discuss career numbers while they are still active, and Turner's message Monday evening was largely one about how he hopes there are many more knocks to come. He did note, though, that it was cool to pass Buster Posey's 1,500 career hits, something his dad informed him of.
Trea Turner has 1,500 career hits, and 1️⃣ home run at CBP this season.
(Via @aokstott)
pic.twitter.com/s7yZObmyaH
Turner's three-run home run was part of a six-run outburst by the Phillies in the inning against Seattle ace Logan Gilbert, who didn't make it past the crooked number in the second inning. Gilbert — who also gave up RBIs to Max Kepler, Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm — allowed nine hits and threw 65 pitches in just two frames. He was absolutely crushed by the Phillies, with his ERA rising from 3.31 to 3.84.
For Turner, Monday was the continuation of what's been an excellent stretch. The four-hit night was the fifth consecutive multi-hit game for the 32-year-old, who entered the day leading the National League with 147 hits. Turner went through a lull during a homerless July, hitting .268 with just a .681 OPS. But he's rebounded in a major way in August, as he's now hitting .333 this month.
That it's Aug. 18 and Turner only has 13 home runs would seem disappointing without context. But manager Rob Thomson told Turner before the season that he didn't care about how many home runs he hit, he wanted him to focus on getting on base and scoring runs. Thomson said a .380 on-base percentage, 40 stolen bases and 100 runs scored were what he told Turner he wanted. Those numbers may have been a bit aspirational, but Turner now has a .351 on-base percentage, 28 stolen bases and 83 runs scored:
This is a super telling quote from Rob Thomson to @AntSanPhilly on the type of approach he told Trea Turner he wants him to have offensively before the season. pic.twitter.com/tSphcTsfmm
"I think he understood that for us to win, he's gotta score runs, so he's gotta be on base and utilize his speed," Thomson said Monday night of Turner's buy-in. "The home runs, they're gonna come. ... He's so important to our offense."
Bryce Harper — who himself had two homers in the victory — had jokes when asked about Turner sacrificing some of his power to make contact more consistently this year for the betterment of the team.
"Yeah, he's bought in so much that he's only hit one homer here," Harper quipped about his good friend.
Harper then praised his long-time teammate.
"It's been great, man," Harper said of Turner's season. "He's having a great year. Obviously, should have been an All-Star. He's doing what Trea Turner does, man ... gets on base ... kills you with his speed and everything else. It's been great."
Bryce Harper on Trea Turner: “He’s bought in so much that he’s only hit one homer here.” 😂
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/Jpvib1YiVi
Additionally, while it can be debated as to what extent Turner has rebounded defensively, he definitely has. There have still been some questionable tag plays and other miscues here and there, but a year after posting 17 errors, minus-14 defensive runs saved and minus-three outs above average over 1,018 2/3 innings, Turner has seven errors, one defensive run saved and 14 outs above average over 1,071 1/3 innings. Defensive metrics aren't perfect, and Turner won't soon be confused for Jimmy Rollins at shortstop. But it's not outrageous to think he could be a Gold Glove finalist this year based on his OAA. Any previously legitimate talk of moving him off of shortstop has been quieted. That's a testament to how hard Turner has worked defensively.
According to FanGraphs, Turner's WAR is now at 5.3, the sixth-best mark among all position players. Again, none of these stats are the end-all-be-all and Turner probably hasn't been the sixth-best player in baseball this year. But it's the highest single-season WAR total Turner has posted since putting up a 6.4 WAR in his contract year with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022. And the version of Turner that the Phillies have gotten in 2025 is what they were expecting when they gave him an 11-year/$300 million deal.
