Turner’s Slow Start Tests Phillies Patience
The Philadelphia Phillies remain committed to shortstop Trea Turner in the leadoff spot, even as his struggles at the plate persist into late May. Turner is slashing just .231 with four home runs, six stolen bases, and a .633 OPS through 44 games, well below the elite production expected from the 11-year, $300 million contract he signed in 2023.
On Saturday, May 16, Turner went 1-for-6 with a stolen base and two runs scored in an 11-9 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He followed that with a 2-for-4 performance on Sunday, including an RBI double in a 6-0 victory, giving him hits in three straight games. Interim manager Don Mattingly insists Turner will snap out of his slump.
"Whatever he’s doing now is not something that’s going to keep going," Mattingly told reporters before Sunday’s game. "He’s working. It’s not all of the sudden Trea has lost it. He’s gonna hit and he’s gonna be himself."
Turner has been on base for 30% of Kyle Schwarber’s team-leading 20 home runs this season, a slight improvement over last year’s 28.6% rate. Still, the Phillies have the fourth-worst OPS from the leadoff spot in Major League Baseball at .597, ahead of only the Guardians, Red Sox, and Padres. Schwarber — who leads MLB in homers — has just 35 RBIs, partly because fewer runners are on base ahead of him.
The team has moved Schwarber to the top of the order when Turner is out of the lineup, but Mattingly has resisted making a permanent change. "Trea is a notoriously streaky hitter," wrote Phillies Nation, noting that Turner entered August 2023 with a .673 OPS before hitting 16 home runs over the final 51 games.
Why the Leadoff Spot Matters
Turner’s role atop the order is critical for the Phillies’ offense. His ability to get on base and steal bags — he swiped six so far in 2026 — sets the table for Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and the rest of the lineup. Without consistent on-base production, the team risks wasting some of the best power hitting in baseball.
Mattingly acknowledged the limited alternatives. Bryce Harper prefers hitting second or third, and rookie Justin Crawford is a left-handed hitter the team wants to shield from the pressure of the leadoff role. Turner, despite his slump, remains the most logical option.
The Bigger Picture: Contract, Age, and Defensive Questions
Turner’s struggles extend beyond the box score. According to a recent analysis, the Phillies may be reaching a "breaking point" with the 32-year-old shortstop, not just because of his bat but because of long-term structural concerns.
Turner has never been a standout defensive shortstop. In 2025, he posted his best defensive year in Philadelphia, but he has regressed to neutral or below-average performance in 2026. The Los Angeles Dodgers experimented with moving him to second base — a shift that could become more relevant as Turner ages into his late 30s.
The Phillies owe Turner $27 million per year through 2034. With that kind of commitment, the team must consider whether his skill set — speed, contact hitting, and baserunning — will hold up. Advanced metrics like xwOBA and swing speed suggest his underlying production isn't as dire as his raw numbers, but the decline in power and on-base percentage is real.
A Track Record of Streaky Success
Turner has a history of slow starts followed by torrid stretches. During his All-Star 2024 campaign, he battled through midseason slumps before finishing strong. In 2023, a hamstring injury limited his late-season production, but he still managed a .760 OPS in 162 games. The Phillies are betting on that pattern repeating.
"There’s going to be a period of time where Trea is going to be on fire and we’re going to be going, ‘Trea is back,’" Mattingly said.
The immediate question is whether the Phillies can afford to wait. The team sits just below .500, carried by Brandon Marsh’s batting-title campaign and Schwarber’s home-run binge. Every game counts in a competitive National League East.
What This Means for the Phillies’ Future
Turner’s slump forces a broader reckoning with the Phillies’ roster construction. The team has invested heavily in veterans — Turner, Schwarber, Harper, Zack Wheeler — but the window for contention may be narrowing if key players underperform.
If Turner doesn’t rebound, the Phillies may need to consider lineup reshuffles or even a position change, similar to how the Dodgers shifted him to second base. A move could open up shortstop for a younger defender while preserving Turner’s bat.
A National Trend in Aging Stars
Turner is not alone. Across baseball, star players in their 30s are struggling to maintain peak performance, challenging front offices to rethink long-term contracts. Meanwhile, political developments like the Georgia and Kentucky primaries and events like the Six Flags Titan power outage show that stories of struggle and resilience dominate the news — and the Phillies hope Turner’s story ends in redemption.
The next few weeks will be telling. A hot streak could silence critics and validate Mattingly’s faith. Further decline could force the Phillies into uncomfortable decisions about their $300 million shortstop.
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