Trea Turner joined Ike Reese, Spike Eskin, and Jack Fritz Wednesday on WIP’s afternoon show and talked about getting the new season started, the clubhouse heading into this year, and the potential of him hitting leadoff in 2025. Here’s what he had to say:

Turner: “Yeah I haven’t done it in a long time, last time I did it was 2019. Had a good year for me. We’ve all said, it; we’ll hit wherever Rob wants us to… we want to win. If that is leadoff, 2, 3, I hit eight like a couple of years ago, hopefully, that doesn’t happen again but, we’ll hit wherever. That does excite me in the sense of, maybe I can run a little more and score some more runs. Last couple of years I’ve been trying to drive the ball a little more, not that I won’t do that if I do leadoff but getting on first with nobody in front of me to lead off the game can put pressure on the other team and maybe we can have some big innings early on and kind of get downhill early on. I’m excited if it happens, I’ll be excited if I hit wherever though. I’m just excited to be back, I love the game, I love playing, and I think we have a good squad.” 

I’ve always been extremely pro-Kyle Schwarber leading off because it gives you an immediate threat to rattle a pitcher and go up 1-0 early. But if there’s a year to switch things up, it’s this one, and I’m completely on board with Trea sliding to the leadoff spot.

Putting Turner in the leadoff spot gives him the freedom to steal more bases and be more aggressive on the paths, as he said. Turner stole just 19 bases in 121 games last season with the Phillies. The Phillies want Trea to have more freedom on the bases in 2025, and that will give him the ability to do so.

Sliding Schwarber back also gives Bryce Harper the chance to hit higher in the lineup. I’ve seen some people campaigning for Harper in the leadoff spot, but I don’t think that’s the smartest option for the Phillies. Put Trea’s speed at 1, have Harper hit 2nd, and put Kyle Schwarber in the 4-hole.


If I’m Rob Thomson, this is my lineup on Opening Day vs. the Washington Nationals.

  1. Trea Turner
  2. Bryce Harper
  3. Alec Bohm
  4. Kyle Schwarber
  5. Nick Castellanos
  6. Bryson Stott
  7. JT Realmuto
  8. Max Kepler
  9. Brandon Marsh

I think Max Kepler will work his way up to the 6-hole eventually, but I think they’ll start him a little farther back at first. This top 5 gives you the best chance to win the most games in 2025.