Turner Looking Forward To WBC With First Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training Arriving
Trea Turner signed an 11-year, $300 million contract to help the Philadelphia Phillies capture their first World Series title since 2008.
The Phillies came close last season in a difficult six-game loss to the Houston Astros.
Turner watched from afar and saw the passion of the Phillies’ fan base.
Turner won’t have much of a chance to get to know his new teammates in Clearwater, Fla., since he’ll be participating for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic next month.
It’s exactly the way he wants it.
“I was excited for spring training in general, just to meet everybody as the new guy in town,” Turner said in a media availability earlier in the week. “Definitely want to use these two, three weeks early on to get to know everybody as best I can.”
Turner will be the starting shortstop on Opening Day. That’s a given.
While Turner is away trying to help Team USA win a championship, he won’t exactly be missing that much in Phillies camp.
“I don’t have to worry, ‘Am I playing on the left side or the right side (of second base),”? Turner said. “The conversations with the coaching staff are going to be much easier and much more clear with what they expect from me because I can only do so much now, right? I’ve got to stay on the same side of the field all the time. From that standpoint, I think it’s a little bit easier. I’m not really worried about that.”
The WBC will be played from March 8-21 and will feature 20 teams. There are four pools which each include five teams.
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