Jul 9, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (7) reacts to striking out against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images D. Ross Cameron
During his 15-year MLB career, Jayson Werth played alongside some all-time greats.
Hall of Famers like Roy Halladay and Adrian Beltré. MVPs like Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard. Cy Young winners like Max Scherzer, Cliff Lee and Stephen Strasburg. Generational talents like Bryce Harper.
You would think Werth would consider one of those players to be the best he ever played with.
You would be wrong.
"Trea [Turner] is an unbelievable player," Werth said during an appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic's Middays With Marks show Wednesday.
"I always said he's probably the best player that I ever played with, all things considered."
Turner is coming off his best season as a Phillie. His batting average of .304 was good for his second career NL batting title. Rob Thomson told Turner before the season that he wanted him to prioritize getting on base, and Turner certainly did that. His 179 hits ranked second in the NL, coming in just behind Luis Arraez, who tallied two more hits than Turner in 13 more games.
But again, Werth played with baseball giants. Halladay, Scherzer, Lee, Strasburg, Beltré, Rollins, Howard, Harper. Some of those men accomplished amazing things while Werth watched from the outfield or the dugout.
Turner was Werth's teammate on the Washington Nationals from 2015 to 2017, meaning Werth was only present for the very beginning of Turner's career. So what makes Werth so sure that Turner is the best player he ever played with?
"He's got the most tools. He's got the mind, the speed, he plays short, which is a demanding situation," Werth said. "Hits for average, hits for power, steals bases. Total package."
Werth isn't wrong. Across his 11-year MLB career, Turner has put up some truly impressive numbers, and his average season is something special. Per 162 games, Turner averages 5.4 WAR, 111 runs, 196 hits, 36 doubles, six triples, 24 home runs and 40 (!!!) stolen bases. His 162-game average slash line is .297/.349/.478, good for an .827 OPS.
That is indeed the total package.
"[Turner is] an MVP guy every year. You gotta put it together, but the tools are in there," Werth said. "The mind, and just the instincts on the field. Him and Bryce are generational talents, and I was fortunate enough to play with both of those guys."