Trea Turner Getting Closer to Swinging a Bat

Former NC State shortstop Trea Turner is getting closer and closer to swinging a bat after suffering a broken wrist after he was hit by a pitch on June 30th. He has been rehabbing at the Nationals spring training facility in West Palm Beach (Fla), and he has been cleared for rotational weight-lifting exercises this past week. Turner has already been running, fielding and throwing, but he still hasn’t been cleared to hit.

“I don’t think I could throw well maybe even a week ago,” Turner said. “Right now, I fee like I could make plays at short. It’s been quick. It’s just a matter of getting the hitting back. I got approved to do a lot more rotational stuff in the weight room. So that should help with the hitting and I’m hoping that should speed all that up.” (Link)

The Nationals haven’t clinched a playoff birth yet, but lets face it…they are going to the playoffs. The Nats have a 14 game lead over the Marlins. Playoff baseball is what is on Turner’s mind, and the sooner he can get back…the better.

“I want to play 30 games, 40 games, whatever that is, just to get my timing back,” Turner said. “I have no say in that. It’s just when my body lets me. If it’s less, I got to get ready faster. Just to be back in enough time for the games that matter would be huge. You don’t want to get thrown in there like [Chicago’s Kyle] Schwarber did.” (Link)