The countdown has been on for the return of Trea Turner. The Philadelphia Phillies shortstop has been sidelined since Sept. 7 with a hamstring strain after running out a ground ball to first base. Now the time is approaching for Turner's return.
There was growing anticipation that Turner would return during the final week of the regular season. Unfortunately, the most recent update leaves some disappointment for Phillies fans. Phillies manager Rob Thomson was asked for an update on the star shortstop before Thursday's series finale against the Miami Marlins. Thomson provided some context on the situation while holding back on the idea of reactivating Turner before the end of the regular season.
Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Thursday that Turner won't return on Friday and that the Phillies are "still not sure about the weekend, but know that he'll be ready for the playoffs," according to Thomson.
Trea Turner won’t play Friday, “still not sure about the weekend, but we know that he’ll be ready for the playoffs,” Rob Thomson said. Turner faced live pitching ads in today, ran, did agility drills. He’s been out since straining his right hamstring on Sept. 7.
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) September 25, 2025
Trea Turner may return to Phillies lineup this weekend, or we may have to wait until NLDS
Thomson knows the importance of his player's health and wants to give him a little more time if he can. The main issue right now is Turner is still not completely healthy yet, especially when it comes to trying to run at full speed, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
“Probably 75 percent,” Thomson said on Wednesday, per Zolecki. “I don’t know. Seventy-seven [percent].”
Turner is doing everything he can to get himself ready. He's hitting against minor leaguers, according to The Athletic's Matt Gelb, and continuing to run the bases, just at a reduced speed. It just takes time and above all else, Thomson and the Phillies will prioritize rest.
It may not be worth jeopardizing just over a couple of at-bats when the Phillies have already clinched a first-round bye. If Turner doesn't play before October, he'll also get the additional five days of rest before the second round of the MLB playoffs.
“It’s always about health, but there’s a lot more focus for me on the health of the players, to strike that balance, to be able to win games, get in, get the bye, try to get the best record, and keeping people healthy,” Thomson said, per Zolecki. “Not pushing relievers, position players, everybody. It’s always on my mind, but probably a little more so right now.”
Keeping Turner healthy is certainly the biggest potential concern, but it's still disappointing to not get a feel for Turner in some regular season action first. Even a game or two could help get him acclimated before he has to jump right into the playoffs, especially when he's looking to finish off an NL batting title. The Phillies want to be at full strength when it matters most, but also want to be in a rhythm well beforehand so they can perform in a shortened series.
It's almost a guarantee that Turner will return for the NLDS, barring some major setback. Now, Phillies fans will just have to wait a little longer to see their star shortstop perform in the most important month of the season.