2023 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

Trea Turner: Get to know Team USA’s homerun hero and Philadelphia Phillies’ shortstop

Team USA advances on to the next phase at the rhythm of Trea Turner, a new American Hero.

ERIC ESPADAAFP

Every well-deserved win needs a hero that makes it happen. The stuff that movies are made off. It’s why fans pay the entrance fee to a game. In this WBC, the movie’s hero is definitely Trea Turner. When Team USA needed him, he was there with no reservations. And when he arrived at the press conference after his big display against Venezuela, he did it in the most American way possible, with a can of beer and ready to answer questions; yes, this is Trea Turner.

Trea plays for the Phillies after having played for the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He didn’t have the greatest draft class. He went on to the 20th round with the 602nd overall selection in 2011. He opted to play in college with the North Carolina Wolfpack Baseball team.

Why is Trea Turner a homerun hero for Team USA?

After trailing Venezuela by two, Team USA had bases loaded with no outs. Here comes Trea Turner, a talented nine-hole hitter who was 0-2 in the count against Silvino Bracho, who didn’t expect the Phillies player to hit a Grand Slam that would put Team USA 9-7. This began the story of the American hero who gave Team USA a chance to advance and play against Cuba.

On Sunday, the USA beat Cuba by twelve runs, with Trea Turner hitting another HR. But the team didn’t need him as much this time as they did two days ago. After the match, Trea said, “Probably the loudest game I’ve ever played in. Today was electric and just as good as those World Series games.”

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