3 Phillies key-players who must step up in Trea Turner’s absence

On Saturday, the Philadelphia Phillies were dealt a blow as Trea Turner sustained a left hamstring strain during a seemingly harmless play at home plate on Friday night. This unfortunate incident has led to Turner being placed on the 10-day Injured List, with an anticipated recovery timeline of approximately six weeks according to MLB.com’s Todd Zloecki. This extended absence poses a challenge for the Phillies, given Turner’s impactful contributions to the team thus far.

During Turner’s absence, several Phillies players will be called upon to elevate their performance and help mitigate the gap left by the star shortstop. At least three players on the roster will need to step up and assume a more prominent role to support the team during Turner’s recovery period.

Edmundo Sosa

The primary candidate to step into Trea Turner’s shoes for the Philadelphia Phillies is utility infielder Edmundo Sosa. Sosa was the immediate choice to fill in for Turner on Friday and also started on Saturday, as confirmed by manager Rob Thomson per MLB.com’s Paul Casella. Sosa’s deployment at shortstop is currently the team’s main strategy in response to Turner’s absence.

Acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals during the 2022 trade deadline, Sosa is recognized for his defensive prowess and has been a valuable asset on the Phillies’ bench. His versatility extends to covering second base, third base, and shortstop, making him a reliable backup across multiple positions.

Despite limited playing time, the 28-year-old has demonstrated competence at the plate, boasting a commendable .263 batting average and a .759 OPS. In his Phillies tenure leading up to Sunday’s game, Sosa has accumulated 45 runs, 23 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs, and 45 RBIs across 138 games and 354 at-bats.

With a history of 15 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) over six infield seasons, Sosa is poised to enhance the Phillies’ overall infield defense. However, to compensate for Turner’s offensive contributions, Sosa will need to elevate his performance at the plate. The opportunity for consistent playing time may unlock his latent offensive capabilities and aid in filling the offensive void left by Turner.