Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain on September 7 but managed to return in time for the final game of the regular season. While he’s back on the field, it’s believed he’s still not fully recovered as he prepares for the 2025 MLB playoffs.
Dealing with a lingering hamstring injury this late in the season presents a challenge for Turner. Although he’ll try to push through, it’s unlikely he’s at full strength—no player truly is by postseason time after such a demanding year. Still, the injury could limit his performance in the NLDS.
Trea Turner needed time to regain his rhythm after returning from a Grade 2 hamstring strain in 2024, initially limiting his stolen base attempts before eventually finding his stride again. While his current injury—a Grade 1 strain—is less severe, there are still questions about whether he can ramp up quickly enough to fully utilize his elite speed.
Fortunately for the Phillies, a first-round bye gave Turner extra time to recover ahead of the NLDS. However, whether he can return to peak form in time remains a key storyline heading into Saturday’s game.
Turner captured the NL batting title this season with a .304 average, but it was his baserunning that elevated his 2025 campaign. In 141 games, he tallied 31 doubles, seven triples, and 36 stolen bases—his highest total since 2018. According to Statcast, Turner was the fastest player in MLB by sprint speed, a testament to the havoc he created on the basepaths and a major reason he’ll receive MVP consideration.
That said, there’s also concern about re-aggravating the injury. The Phillies want Turner at full throttle, but pushing too hard could risk losing him entirely—a worst-case scenario. In the regular-season finale, he took it slow, running cautiously during two groundouts to avoid any setbacks.
“I knew if I was going to hit a ground ball somewhere, I wasn’t going to do anything stupid,” Turner told MLB.com’s Paul Casella. “Sunday was more about getting out there, just kind of feeling it again… I knew if I hit something, I wasn’t going to be going crazy, like I could have.”
Turner’s health will be closely watched throughout the postseason. While there’s no guarantee he can avoid re-injury, he and the Phillies’ training staff are managing things carefully. At 32, Turner remains a game-changing presence and one of Philadelphia’s most valuable assets. He understands the risks of playing through the injury—but also the potential reward of a World Series title.