Washington Nationals Minor Leagues: Trea Turner Off To Fast Start At Syracuse

Despite losing the starting shortstop job, Trea Turner is off to a great start in the International League

Even though shortstop Trea Turner performed better than Danny Espinosa in spring training, the Washington Nationals decided to start Turner in the minor leagues. However, Turner is off to a great start in the International League with the triple-A Syracuse Chiefs.

Through the first 11 games of the IL season, the 22-year-old has a slash line of .357/.449/.548 with one home run, five RBI’s, seven walks, and four stolen bases. On Monday, he was named the International League’s player of the week from April 11-17. It was the first time Turner has won Player Of The Week at any level of the minor leagues since he was selected in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres.

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Out of the 11 games he has played, he has had three games of three plus hits or more, including a four-hit game back on April 12 against the Buffalo Bison (Toronto Blue Jays). He is currently tied for fifth in the league in hits (15), tied for second with four stolen bases (behind Emilio Bonifacio with five), and is fourth in on-base percentage (minimum ten games). Finally, his seven walks are second on the team behind Scott Sizemore (nine).

While Turner would be a good asset to the Nats’ bench right now, there isn’t enough room on the roster when you consider that Matt den Dekker (who came up when Ben Revere went on the disabled list) currently has that last spot and the Nats need that extra outfielder.

Plus, people look at the fact that Espinosa is not off to a strong start as the number eight hitter in the lineup (.158 batting average, no home runs, three RBI’s in the first 13 games). However, there also is the issue of service time where if the Nats keep him in the minor leagues long enough, they get that extra year of team control.

However, while Turner isn’t learning at the Major League level, he is still continuing his development up at Syracuse. Here is what Turner told MILB.com on Saturday (after Syracuse’s win against Scranton Wilkes-Barre) about what the Nationals wanted him to work on in the International League:

"“They just wanted me to work on defense and improve my arm strength. I think I’ve done an all right job so far. I’ve made a couple mistakes, but I’ve known the adjustments I’ve needed to make. Also, being a leader, helping the team out in any way that I can. I’ve been working on that, too, communicating things that I see around me and picking guys’ brains and communicating the best that I can. (h/t Josh Jackson, MILB.com)"