When the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Trea Turner at the MLB trade deadline last season, he was immediately installed as the team’s new leadoff hitter, with Mookie Betts dropping down to the No. 3 spot.
Turner batted first for the Dodgers over the ensuing month, but after the offense struggled to generate consistency, Roberts switched him and Betts in the lineup.
Betts entered the 2022 season as the Dodgers’ primary leadoff man, and Turner remained in the No. 3 spot. However, when Betts was placed on the 10-day injured list last month, Turner took his place at the top of the lineup.
With Betts back in the lineup, Turner has been moved out of the leadoff spot. Although his time batting first was brief, the 29-year-old embraced the opportunity, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“I hit leadoff for most of my career and then started hitting two or three last year. I hit leadoff for a long time, so it feels pretty normal. The only thing that feels different maybe is that first at-bat of the game. Other than that it feels good.”
As Turner noted, he hit leadoff for most of his career with the Washington Nationals, so it is no surprise he feels so comfortable in that spot.
Turner is in the midst of another excellent season as he enters play Wednesday batting .307/.355/.484 with 20 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 59 RBI and 16 stolen bases across 80 games.
Turner and Betts were named among the National League finalists in voting for the 2022 MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.
Turner, Betts & Freeman prefer new Dodgers batting order
Betts’ return to the Dodgers lineup on Sunday brought a new batting order at the top. While the 2018 American League MVP remained in the leadoff spot, Turner was moved to No. 2, with Freddie Freeman right behind him.
“I just think they’ve all earned that right to be a part of the conversation, and they feel great about it,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“To be quite honest, that’s kind of what their preference was. So for me to hear them and understand their thoughts behind it, it made sense.”
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