Aug 20, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (7) reacts after hitting a triple during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
PHILADELPHIA - Trea Turner just wrapped up his best regular season since joining the Phillies and capped it off with the N.L. batting title.
He did everything the Phillies asked of him and more. He'll likely see his name pop up a few times in MVP voting. A top 10 finish is likely. A top five finish isn't out of the question.
And yet, he isn't satisfied.
"My expectations are always higher than what anyone else can put on me," Turner said. "I feel like I can always be better, you know?"
Professional athletes are always perfectionists, but it's even more so for guys who are generational talents.
"If I go 3 for 5, I feel like those two at bats I'm like, 'Oh man, I could have walked. If I didn't foul this pitch off, I could have got a base hit. I kind of obsess over the smaller things."
Fair enough, but it should be noted that Turner was asked to take a different approach this season by the Phillies - to have a different mindset when he stepped up to the plate.
Back in May, manager Rob Thomson revealed that he sat down with Turner in the offseason and told him to not worry about home runs and just to focus on getting on base, stealing bases and scoring runs.
The goals he set were a .380 on base percentage, 40 stolen bases, and 100 runs.
Turner didn't quite get there with any of them. He likely would have reached the stolen base and runs scored marks had he not missed three weeks in September with a hamstring strain. He still got close, finishing with 34 steals and 94 runs. It was the on base percentage that was a tough goal to reach. It was ambitious. Thomson admitted that on Friday in advance of his team commencing it's NLDS clash with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
But, despite the lofty goals, there was intent behind setting such a high benchmark.
Rob Thomson set some lofty goals for Trea Turner’s 2025 season. He told @AntSanPhilly that it worked out well for everyone involved.
“[Turner] did pretty much exactly what we needed him to do.”
(via @GraceDelPizzo) pic.twitter.com/Q655NVbM7y
"Whenever you have goals, you overdo it a little bit to keep that carrot out there for him," Thomson said, admitting that he shot high with those numbers provided to Turner, hoping that the chase for them would lead to the desired effect. "Trea had a heck of a year. He did pretty much exactly what we needed him to do. ... It really worked out well."
It did. Turner sacrificed power for on base and although he didn't get to .380, he did get to .355, his best mark since signing in Philadelphia. He also posted a 5.5 bWAR, the second-best of his career behind his bonkers 2021 season.
The one thing he didn't have was pop - as his 15 homers were his fewest in a 162-game season since 2017.
But that's the trade off, right? A great statistical season average and on base-wise while sacrificing a little bit of power. Turner had to be content with that, right?
Right?
"Not really," Turner said. "I feel like I can do both. In 2021 and in 2020 I hit for a lot of power and still hit for a high average. Actually in 2019 too. I'm definitely capable of it. The last two years I just wasn't as consistent, while in those three or four years prior I was very consistent.
"This year I was really consistent with just a little less power, which maybe is an anomaly, but I feel like I can still hit 25 or 30 homers playing every day."
Alec Bohm had 3 RBI in his return from the 10 day IL last month.
I asked him what he’s seen from Trea Turner as he ramps up to return to the Phillies lineup in the NLDS: pic.twitter.com/KF7fiv6IsU
With the playoffs beginning Saturday, the Phillies just want Turner to be the guy he has been for all of 2025. That guy gets on base, creates chaos and sets up Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper batting behind him.
Thomson credited Turner with being a big contributor to Schwarber wining the RBI title this season.
If Turner can be the player he's been all season, he could be an absolute X-factor in the series.
He feels ready to go, even if he hasn't pushed his baserunning to 100% yet.
"I've done everything I can except for sprinting 31 or 32 feet per second in a game," Turner said. "The last time I got hurt it was kind of the same thing. It's hard to recreate the adrenaline and the actual speed of a baseball game when you're trying to beat out a ground ball or trying to score on a hit."
Turner said he no longer feels like he has to physically prep all day in anticipation for playing and said he feels confident that he's back even without having sprinted at full tilt.
"But I think I can," he said.
Might it be best if he has to do that in his first at bat of Game 1 on Saturday, just to get it over with?
"I would like to hit a double and stride it out and feel it," Turner said. "And then, as the game goes on, hit some homers so I can just jog around the bases and not really think about it."
That would be great for the Phillies, but he doesn't need to do all that.
Like Thomson said back in the winter. Get on base. Steal bases. Score runs.
It's the winning formula for the Phillies.
