The Philadelphia Phillies could be without shortstop Trea Turner for at least a few games after he exited Monday’s 7-0 win over the Miami Marlins with a right wrist contusion.
Turner was hit by a pitch from Miami reliever William Kempner in the sixth inning and left the game shortly afterward.
Fortunately for Philadelphia, X-rays came back negative, though interim manager Don Mattingly acknowledged the veteran shortstop is expected to be sore in the coming days.
While losing a player of Turner’s caliber is never ideal, the injury may provide an opportunity for the Phillies to give their struggling star a much-needed break.
Turner has been mired in a prolonged slump, going just 1-for-13 with six strikeouts during the club’s recent series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Over Philadelphia’s six-game road trip, he managed only three hits in 26 at-bats while striking out 10 times, causing his batting average to fall to .216 with a .594 OPS.
If Turner is unavailable, Edmundo Sosa is expected to take over at shortstop. Sosa has been one of the Phillies’ most reliable bench contributors this season and has experience at the position, appearing in nine games there already.
His versatility becomes even more valuable with Alec Bohm expected to return from his own minor injury absence.
Should Turner’s recovery take longer than anticipated, Philadelphia’s infield depth could face a significant challenge.
Christian Cairo, currently with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, is the lone infielder on the club’s 40-man roster who has yet to make his major league debut.
The 25-year-old has performed well in Triple-A, batting .257 with a .730 OPS while showcasing his speed on the bases with 19 stolen bases.
For now, the Phillies will monitor Turner’s condition closely, but a brief absence could ultimately help both the player and the team by allowing him time to recover physically and reset at the plate.
