One year ago today, the city of Philadelphia embraced its struggling superstar.
After a horrendous start to the 2023 season, Trea Turner hit rock bottom in a game against the Miami Marlins. He went 0-5 and made an error that cost the Phillies the game. Turner walking off the field as Marlins players ran around and jumped for joy is burned in memory.
Turner even admitted after the game, “Obviously, I’m the reason we lost the game.”
Turner came to Philadelphia with a lot of hype. He had just signed a $300M contract and went berserk at the World Baseball Classic, but through the Phillies’ first 107 games, he had only hit .235 with 10 home runs and 32 RBI.
That’s when it changed. A sold-out crowd came to their feet to show support for an underperforming player on a huge contract.
The Trea Turner standing ovation happened a year ago today.
The whole team could use one now.
pic.twitter.com/rUNihlKPxY— Destiny Lugardo (@destiny_lugardo) August 4, 2024
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Since the ovation, Turner has been one of the best players in baseball, hitting .324 with 29 home runs and 99 RBI.
He even went on a 10-game hit streak after the ovation.
What happened on August 3 against the Royals was truly something special.
Trea Turner got a standing ovation and then started playing like he was back in the world baseball classic
The Philadelphia Phillies Fanbase Trea turner
What a beautiful sight to see pic.twitter.com/ewZ54R6IoP
— Philly Sports Sufferer (@mccrystal_alex) August 11, 2023
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The thing with Turner was that his failures through the first 107 games were not due to a lack of effort. It has been reported that Turner was the first one in the cage, on the field, and the last one off, but the results just weren’t showing.
Philadelphia has a reputation for being one of the toughest fan bases to play in front of, which is likely why things kept spiraling for Turner. The old adage that Philadelphia fans threw snowballs at Santa Claus is no more, Philadelphia is a city where we have our players back.
If you give your all regardless of results, the city will have your back, and that makes Philadelphia a special place.
PHOTO: ClutchPoints
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