July 1, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner takes batting practice at Citizens Bank Park. (Credit: Grace Del Pizzo/On Pattison)
When Trea Turner first felt his right hamstring grab as he was running down the first base line, his initial thought was that was looking at an extended injury.
"We (initially) thought it was pretty similar to last year," Turner said, referring to the Grade 2 left hamstring strain that he suffered in May that cost him six weeks of playing time.
"But it's better," he said. "It's kind of smaller. It's in the same area on the opposite side, but smaller, so I think that's a good sign."
The Phillies placed Turner and Alec Bohm (shoulder inflammation) on the 10-day I.L. prior to Monday'1-0 win over the New York Mets.
But the expectation is that this strain - which was diagnosed as Grade 1, and not Grade 2, will allow for Turner to be back in time for the playoffs.
It would be even better if the Phillies can hold off the Los Angeles Dodgers and get a first round bye, which would buy Turner an extra five days.
The Phillies had a 4 1/2 game lead over the Dodgers at the time of this writing. The Dodgers were hosting the Colorado Rockies late Monday night.
Trea Turner on timeline: “Shooting for playoffs, if not hopefully a little bit earlier, but probably more towards the playoffs.”
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/wyREjFjR3e
Turner was asked how how high his confidence he was that he could be back by the playoffs. The Wild Card round is scheduled to begin on September 30. The Division Series is set to start on October 4.
"Pretty good," he said.
Turner said his hamstring was not bothering him prior to Sunday's game in Miami, but did say that at other times during the season, he has played through some soreness.
"At times, throughout the year, you feel certain things," he said. "(But) I was actually feeling pretty good those last few days."
This, of course, goes against what Rob Thomson said pregame when asked the same question.
"I gave him the day off the day before because he felt a little banged up," Thomson said. "There was nothing specific. It was just that I wanted to give him a day off form the turf. So, we did and then it happened."
Either way, the Phillies have between three and four weeks to get Turner right.
J.T. Realmuto on the loss of Trea Turner:
“It can’t be on one person to pick up all the slack for him. We all have to pick it up a bit.”
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/PMZcTl1vDw
And when he returns, the question will ne can he be the same player he has been all season, especially using his speed to create havoc on the bases?
"That's always the hardest part," Turner said. "You're never going to know you are 100% until you play in a real game, so you get as close to that as possible and then go from there."
Turner was tentative when he came back from the hamstring injury last season, and never seemed to have that burst and speed and be a threat to steal a bag every time he was on base.
But last year he returned in June. This year, it'll be October. Or, if he comes back for the last couple of games of the season as a primer, then we can channel our inner Dave Dombrowski and call it October-ish.
In this instance, the game will mean more right away. So, does that change Turner's mindset?
"Yeah, sure," he said. "But that's far ahead, so we'll worry about that when we get there."
