5 early Phillies spring training overreactions after the first two weeks of play

Trea Turner will win the NL MVP award

This isn’t so much an overreaction but more of a level-headed prediction. Turner found his comfort and groove towards the end of last year and in the postseason. He is coming into the 2024 season with a full year in Philadelphia under his belt, less pressure to perform, and a sense of comfort starting in game one.

Turner has been one of the most consistently great players in MLB over his nine-year career. From 2020 through the 2023 season, he ranks fifth in all of baseball with a 19.8 fWAR, just behind the likes of Mookie Betts and José Ramirez but ahead of perennial MVP candidates Juan Soto, Paul Goldschmidt, and Ronald Acuña Jr.

If spring training is any indication, Turner is ready to retake his place among the best of the best. So far, in six games, Turner is batting 400/.438/.600 with three doubles, two RBI, one walk, and just three strikeouts.

"I feel like the swing is kind of where it was at the end of last year," Turner said per MLB.com's Paul Casella. “I feel like I learned a lot last year and I've kind of carried that over to my work now, and it just feels good."

The two-time All-Star and former Silver Slugger is feeling good, and with the Phillies' high expectations as a team, an NL MVP for the Phillies shortstop is well within reach.