CLEARWATER — As a baby-faced freshman at Park Vista High School, Trea Turner was gaining a reputation as an emerging star third baseman and outfielder.
But his sophomore season with the Cobras would change his life forever as the coaching staff moved him to shortstop, a decision that now looks like pure brilliance.
More than a decade later, Turner is one of the top infielders in Major League Baseball, a two-time All-Star and World Series champion. Not to mention his current 11-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies is worth a whopping $300 million.
“When you have a player of his caliber to play shortstop every single day, and do it at a high level, it helps the team so much,” Phillies left fielder Kyle Schwarber said at the team’s spring training facility in Clearwater.
“When that guy’s on the field, it’s a great day for us. He’s an exciting baseball player. Philadelphia is really lucky to have him.”
After making his MLB debut with the Washington Nationals in 2015, and helping the organization win the 2019 World Series over the Houston Astros, Turner was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021 and also played there in 2022.
Phillies advanced to NL Championship Series last season
As a free agent that winter, Turner signed his massive deal with the Phillies, who lost in the World Series in 2022 and made the National League Championship Series last season with Turner as a main catalyst.
“We all think this is one of the best places to play and to win,” the 30-year-old Turner said last week after reporting to Phillies camp. “Everyone’s on the same page and wants the same outcome.”
With a roster loaded with stars, including Turner, Bryce Harper, Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, the Phillies once again are legitimate contenders in the National League.
And even though Turner struggled at times early last season, he never got down on himself or let his frustrations linger into Philadelphia’s clubhouse. He finished 2023 with a .266 batting average, 76 RBIs, 26 home runs and .778 OPS in 155 games.
“Having somebody like that, who’s been around awhile and been on some really good teams, seeing how he goes about his work, it speaks to who he is,” Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott said. “He’s a $300 million player and you could easily throw it in and say, ‘This just wasn’t my year.’ But that wasn’t him. He was taking a bunch of swings trying to figure it out. He was taking a bunch of ground balls trying to help our pitchers.
“When you’re that highly paid, you don’t want someone to ever throw it in. He’s the opposite. He doesn’t sit at his locker all day; he’s always doing something. Young guys can really learn routines from players like that.”
Turner remains an offensive threat hitting and running
Along with his defensive prowess at shortstop, Turner remains an offensive threat as both a hitter and runner. In 2021, between the Nationals and Dodgers, he led the league with 195 hits and 32 stolen bases. He stole a career-high 46 bases in 2017 with Washington.
“Obviously, the offense is the offense and the speed is the speed,” Schwarber said. “He’s able to put pressure on a defense every time he steps to the plate, whenever the ball’s in play. The power, the presence; it’s all there.”
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Turner credits his time at Park Vista with helping develop him into an elite talent, although he said it’s been awhile since he’s visited his alma mater. It was much easier while playing for the Nationals, who hold spring training at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach.
In 2019, he hosted the Cobras’ baseball team at a spring training game; and the following spring he was at Park Vista for an event with Adidas.
“That’s where I learned to play baseball and move up the ranks,” Turner told The Palm Beach Post in a previous interview. “It’s good to see those kids out there doing the same.”
First appeared on www.palmbeachpost.com