The Philadelphia Phillies activated shortstop Trea Turner from the injured list and had him bat second against the San Diego Padres on Monday night.
Turner missed 38 games after straining his left hamstring during Philadelphia’s 4–3 win over the San Francisco Giants on May 3. The four-time All-Star was injured while running the bases when he scored on a passed ball from second.
“I feel really good,” Turner said. “I felt like I’ve been running the bases really well the last few weeks. It took a little longer than I wanted.”
Turner was hitting .343 with a pair of home runs, nine RBIs and 10 steals when he went on the IL. The Phillies went 25-13 in his absence, with Edmundo Sosa filling in admirably at shortstop. Sosa is hitting .277 with five home runs and 19 RBIs in 41 games.
“He did an incredible job,” Turner said. “I’m tipping my cap.”
Philadelphia entered Monday with an eight-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East. The Phillies returned home for a three-game series against San Diego to begin a six-game homestand after their departure 3-5 on an eight-game, three-city intercontinental road trip that included a few games in London on June 8-9 against the Mets. They last played in Philadelphia, where they are 27-10, on June 5.
“We knew London was going to be a bit tricky,” Turner said. “We probably felt it a little bit in the next two series and we played two good teams. It’ll be big to get back home, reset and hopefully get back on a good schedule and play like we played earlier this year .”
To make room for Turner on the roster, the Phillies sent center fielder Johan Rojas to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Rojas hit .235 with two home runs and 19 RBIs in 58 games.
“Just keep working,” Turner said of his message to Rojas. “The talent is clearly there. How you use that as motivation is a big factor.”
