The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/714462
76 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PROS Trea Turner Wasted No Time Making A MLB Impact BY RYAN TICE F ormer NC State star shortstop Trea Turner doesn't do anything slowly, so it shouldn't be a surprise that the speedster has quickly made an impact since being called back up to the Washington Nationals in early July. It marked his third career stint with the big league club, but it appears he could be in the majors to stay this time. Turner was called up at the end of the 2015 season and appeared in 27 games, log- ging 40 at-bats, nine hits, one home run, an RBI and two stolen bases. However, he be- gan this year back in the minors, losing the starting shortstop job to veteran defensive specialist Danny Espinosa. After an impressive start to his season in the minors, which included a .302 bat- ting average, 22 doubles, eight triples and six home runs in 331 at-bats, the Nation- als' No. 2 prospect and the 10th-best in all of baseball, according to MLB.com, was named a Triple-A All-Star. His first call-up came in early June after first baseman Ryan Zimmerman's wife had a baby. Despite a 3-for-3 performance at the plate with a double and a walk in his first MLB game of the year, he was sent back down after two games played (one at second base and one as a pinch runner) following Zimmerman's return. On July 8, Turner was recalled to Wash- ington after the club was hit with some inju- ries. The 23-year-old was leading the Inter- national League in runs (61) and steals (25) at the time. He stepped in at second base and led off the batting order on July 10, but then would soon take on a new challenge — after the injured players returned, manager Dusty Baker shifted Turner to center field July 26 in order to keep the rookie in the lineup. Despite just six minor league games at the position while playing with Triple-A Syracuse, Turner didn't take long to flash his defensive prowess, running down a fly ball to the right-center gap and making the grab on the warning track to end the first inning. He later made an ill-advised dive for a ball that got by him and went for a double. However, Turner continued to play center, while one of the regular outfielders served as designated hitter during an interleague game. Now Turner is a fixture in the lineup, whether he's playing center or second base. "If he's here, the kid's going to play," Baker told MLB.com July 27. "I'm trying to find a way for him to play." Baker even went as far as comparing Turner to Hall of Famer Robin Yount, who began his career at shortstop before moving to center field — he won AL MVP awards at both positions. In his first 22 games of the year, Turner has hit .303 with eight stolen bases in nine chances, four doubles, four triples, two home runs and 12 RBI. His speed — Na- tionals general manager Mike Rizzo told 106.7 the FAN that in a race he thought Turner "would probably be as fast as [Hall of Famer] Rickey Henderson" — has pro- vided a spark to Washington's struggling lineup. "With his speed, he changes the game," All-Star pitcher Stephen Strasburg said, ac- cording to FederalBaseball.com. "It changes how the defense plays out there when he's on the basepaths. He's impacting the game in a lot of ways, and he's fun to watch." Turner even became the third player in franchise history to steal home — "Almost any other player in baseball would have been out," The Washington Post reported. "It feels different [with Turner leading off] because he's getting on, and he creates some havoc with his speed," Baker said to FederalBaseball.com. "I was told by [the Cincinnati Reds' Triple-A manager] Delino DeShields that he was an impact player, and he's made his impact felt in the short period of time that he's been here." ■ MLB Player Updates Through Aug. 7 • Nathan Karns (Played at NC State in 2007), RHP, Seattle Mariners: The hurler who finished his college career at Texas Tech is 6‑2 with a 5.15 ERA and one save in 22 appearances, including 15 starts … He has thrown 94 1 ⁄3 innings and struck out 101 while walking 45 … His last seven appearances came out of the bullpen. • Carlos Rodon (2012‑14), LHP, Chicago In his first 22 games with the Washington Nationals this season, Turner hit .303 with two home runs, 12 RBI and eight steals. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP