You don’t need to be a diehard baseball fan to know the Phillies are a star-studded lineup. Names like, Schwarber, Harper, Turner, Wheeler and Nola are pretty common names and faces even for the casual fan. They hit moonshots, come up with big hits in crucial situations and retire the side in high leverage situations.
What makes this 2024 Phillies team special is the production they are getting from the depth of their lineup. When Trea Turner went down on May 3rd with a hamstring injury, Phillies fans were unsure how the team would tread water and pick up the slack during his absence. Turner was hot out of the gate this season. With a .343 batting average and a 144 OPS+, it was hard to imagine they could replicate that success with their current bench position players.
Edmundo Sosa was given the opportunity to play shortstop for roughly six weeks in Turner’s absence. What he has done filling in thus far, has been nothing short of incredible. Sosa hasn’t been an everyday player since the 2021 season when he was playing middle infield for the St. Louis Cardinals.
“I just go out and have fun. That’s the key for success,” Sosa said. “I go out and enjoy my game and above everything, I try to help my team win. I just kept working the same way that I’ve done.
“I think I’m a renewed player. I’m more intelligent, more prepared for the situation because of the experience that I’ve gotten and that’s helped me a lot.”
Sosa is now hitting .319 with a 1.000 OPS in his 72 at bats this season. Even more impressive, are his splits vs left-handed pitching, .382 AVG and a 1.299 OPS. He is mashing left handed pitching.
“He’s really playing well,” Thomson said. “I think that’s a function of getting more consistent at-bats, getting reps…and he’s really playing well defensively. He’s a good player.”
The Phillies are on pace to win over 110 games this season. That alone, with a fully healthy lineup is an incredible feat and yet they are doing it without their $300 million dollar shortstop.
The post How The Phillies Are Thriving In The Absence Of Trea Turner appeared first on Philadelphia Sports Nation.