When Trea Turner was signed before 2023, the thought by many Phillies fans was that Turner would be the team’s everyday leadoff hitter. That took a while to materialize for various reasons, primarily due to Kyle Schwarber’s previous proclivity for hitting first, but Turner has been dynamic hitting leadoff in 2025.
Turner has hit leadoff in 94 games this season, accumulating 439 plate appearances. In those plate appearances, Turner is slashing .314/.360/.475 with 10 home runs. His consistent hitting
and on-base ability in 2025 have also led to him being able to cause havoc on the bases, as Turner has stolen 26 of his 36 bases while hitting leadoff. He has finally realized his potential to be an elite prototypical leadoff hitter in Philadelphia.
The problem now is that Turner is on the injured list for at least the next couple of weeks, possibly until the postseason, with a hamstring strain. In the first game since his injury, the Phillies had Bryce Harper hit leadoff. Harper has hit first 39 times in his career, racking up 173 plate appearances and slashing .264/.360/.547. As a member of the Phillies, Harper has hit leadoff 10 times and has hit .237/.356/.474. In that first game without Turner, Harper went 0-4 with two strikeouts.
In the ensuing games, the Phillies have opted to have Harrison Bader hit leadoff. So far, it’s been a great success, as Bader is 5-11 (.455) with a home run across 12 plate appearances entering Thursday. He hadn’t had a ton of leadoff experience prior to this season, having done so only 25 times in his career for a total of 81 plate appearances, and not having done so since 2023. Bader didn’t have standout numbers, hitting just .254 with a .768 OPS, but his .346 on-base percentage is a solid mark for a table setter. He also has the speed element similar to Turner, but Bader had only stolen four bases while batting leadoff prior to 2025.
The Phillies had previously used Bryson Stott as a part-time leadoff hitter this season, but the results were not good, as he hit just .228 with a .607 OPS and a paltry .280 OBP. Putting Stott back at leadoff now would also bring the problem of three straight lefties to begin the order with Schwarber and Harper hitting behind him. Still, he theoretically brings a leadoff hitter’s skillset to the table, with his proclivity for long at-bats and his speed.
Of course, Schwarber has extensive leadoff experience, and the Phillies have won many games with him hitting first. But his prolific power and RBI numbers this season may bring pause in having him hit first, even if it would guarantee the Phillies best hitter in 2025 more plate appearances.
So, who should be the Phillies leadoff hitter in Trea Turner’s absence? Should they continue with what is working with Bader? Or should they try Harper or even Schwarber again? Or should Stott get another chance? Do you have any other ideas of who could be the temporary leadoff man?
