The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/743343
136 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PROS Trea Turner Finishes Fine Rookie Year BY RYAN TICE D espite playing just 73 games this sea- son, former NC State star shortstop Trea Turner made his impact felt with the Washington Nationals. After an outstanding start in the minors, he was called up to the bigs for good July 8 (he had a brief appearance earlier in the season) and added speed to the Nats' lineup, quickly becoming an everyday choice in the all-important leadoff spot. He also proved to be an asset in the field while playing out of position, mostly in center field, and earning the National League Rookie of the Month laurels for August — after his first full month on base- ball's highest level — and September. He logged 324 plate appearances in the regular season and finished with a .342 bat- ting average, 14 doubles, eight triples, 13 home runs, 40 RBI and 33 stolen bases, the latter was more than any other rookie in the majors and tied for seventh overall. According to Baseball Reference, Turner is the only rookie in MLB history (since 1900) to post at least 13 home runs, 33 sto- len bases and an average of .340 or higher in no more than 73 games. "When Trea came, Trea gave us an- other weapon, another element," Nation- als manager Dusty Baker told MLB.com. "He had tremendous, tremendous impact on our lineup, and it had a lot to do with us winning. He's a combination of speed and power, which is rare these days." After the All-Star break, Turner led all major leaguers with eight triples and ranked in the National League's top five for stolen bases (second, 33), hits (second, 102), to- tal bases (third, 170), runs scored (tied for fifth, 53) and batting average (fifth, .340). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only three others rookies in MLB history have hit .340 or better with as many as 13 hom- ers after the break — Hal Trosky (1934), Ted Williams (1939) and Willie McCovey (1959); Williams and McCovey are both in the Hall of Fame. Turner's .342 batting average is the high- est by any rookie with at least 290 at-bats since Ichiro Suzuki hit .350 in 2001. He continued to help the Nationals after the club won the NL East title with a final record of 95-67, which was second best in the National League. Although Washington lost in the Division Series to Los Angeles, no rookie scored more than Turner's five runs or hit better than his .318 mark in the playoffs. Before the start of the World Series, his Turner became the only rookie in MLB history to post at least 13 home runs, 33 stolen bases and an average of .340 or higher in no more than 73 games. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP