Phillies’ potential new leadoff hitter sowing doubt with ice-cold spring
Trea Turner is having a disastrous spring training offensively so far, and the Phillies still haven’t decided who will hit leadoff.
The Philadelphia Phillies may have a different batting order to start the 2025 regular season. There have been rumors in previous seasons that manager Rob Thomson would experiment with different lineups, particularly near the top of the batting order.
Left fielder Kyle Schwarber, who has transitioned to being Philadelphia’s primary designated hitter, has found success as the team’s leadoff batter. He may not be a typical leadoff choice, considering his high home run and RBI totals, but he has been the Phillies’ best option the last three years.
Shortstop Trea Turner is one other candidate to bat first. He hit leadoff earlier in his career before signing with the Phillies. However, he hasn’t done well offensively over the first two-plus weeks of spring training.
Trea Turner’s ice-cold spring might disrupt Phillies’ plans to change the lineup
Turner has a low slash line of .059/.273/.059 and a .332 OPS following the Phillies’ March 9 game versus the Baltimore Orioles. He has only one hit and seven strikeouts in 17 at-bats so far in Grapefruit League games.
The 31-year-old has found himself with two strikes early on in many of his at-bats during his previous two years with Philadelphia. Turner needs to change his approach if he is put into the leadoff role this season by Thomson. The first batter is expected to work the count and get on base the majority of the time.
