Trea Turner says his own mother booed him before he hit home run
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner has been struggling to live up to the 11-year, $300 million deal he signed with the organization this past offseason.
While his most vocal critics reside in the “City of Brotherly Love,” Turner recently revealed he’s been feeling the heat from back on the home front. During the Phillies’ 6-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday, fans inside Citizens Bank Park booed in unison after he struck out on a ball in the dirt in the seventh inning — making him 0-4 at the plate to that point in the game.
Turner’s mom joined in on the booing as well from her home.
“My mom prepared me for anything in this game and in the world,” Turner said after the game, via Fox News. “She was tough on me from an early age and not much fazes me… She told me today she was booing me… Texted me and said, ‘Good game, except for your fourth at-bat.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, not a good one,’ and she said, ‘I was booing you.’”
Turner, 29, later turned his mother’s boos into a smile after he launched a two-out, two-run home run in the ninth inning to tie things up and send the game to extras. Phillies manger Rob Thomson is hopeful that could be the spark to get Turner going.
“Maybe that’s his signature moment that gets him going here,” Thomson said. “Sometimes it’s tough for guys to come in, big contract, try to impress his teammates, fan base. He just keeps grinding, keeps working at it.”
Trea Turner working to snap out of slump
In 49 games entering Friday, Turner had slashed .244/.288/.383 with five home runs, 13 RBI and six stolen bases. He is coming off a season in which he belted 21 home runs to go along with 100 RBI and 27 stolen bases.
He admitted after Monday’s game that he hadn’t lived up anywhere near the lofty expectations.
“I’m honest with myself, I’ve sucked,” Turner said, via ESPN. “… Every at-bat, every play, every game is another day to try to do better and try to be the player that I know I am. If you harp on yesterday or you harp on the last at-bat, it’s just going to snowball on you. You’re not going to be able to turn it around.
“So I’m honest with myself. I tell myself straight, and I don’t lie to myself. I think I’m a positive guy… Can always do better and can always be better. That’s the attitude I have, but at the same time, I know when I don’t do something right.”