Phillies hope Trea Turner can get going as the calendar shifts to June

The Philadelphia Phillies have received little production from shortstop Trea Turner this season, and he does not look like the National League Batting champion he was last year (.304 batting average). Through 58 games, Turner is batting a career-worst .223, which is his lowest batting average since his rookie season when he hit .225 in 27 games, and is posting an OPS+ of 71. 

In his last 15 games, Turner has been ice cold, batting .194 with a .242 on-base percentage and striking out 16 times in 62 at-bats. Turner's poor start to the season caused interim manager Don Mattingly to remove the three-time All-Star from the leadoff spot and move him to the two hole. 

Batting second hasn't helped Turner get himself back on track, as he has collected six hits, a double, two home runs, and struck out five times in 25 at-bats. With the calendar turning to June and the Phillies only a game over .500 (30-29), Turner needs to start getting himself going for the Phillies to get hot. 

The Philadelphia Phillies hope Trea Turner can start getting himself going as the calendar shifts to June 

Over a third of the way through the Major League Baseball season, June is a time when hitters and teams show you whether they can turn things around or not. Already having 238 at-bats (256 plate appearances) under his belt, June will show whether or not Turner will remain a .220 hitter or get back to hitting between .280 and .300. 

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"The Phillies could really use a few guys heating up throughout the lineup, but it all starts with Turner," wrote MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. "They recently dropped him out of the leadoff spot in the hopes it could provide a spark -- and he responded with a homer in back-to-back games. That’s a start, but he’s still a long ways away from being the player he was last year when he won the NL batting title. This Phillies offense is at its best when he’s hitting leadoff and getting on base ahead of MLB home run leader Kyle Schwarber."

With no other options to play at shortstop other than Edmundo Sosa, who is preoccupied with learning to play left field, the Phillies need to continue to roll with Turner. 

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