Phillies executive remains confident in Trea Turner's defensive skills

Philadelphia Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski remains confident in the defensive abilities of shortstop Trea Turner, despite the latter's poor performance statistics from the 2026 season. Turner has been struggling defensively, ultimately recording the second-highest error count in the league with 18 and ranking in the bottom ten for putouts by a shortstop with 83.

Furthermore, his fielding percentage stands at a disappointing .954, ranking fourth among all players at the time of reporting. Advanced metrics even indicate that Turner has been detrimental to his team, with a defensive runs saved figure of -14.

However, Dombrowski remains optimistic about Turner's defensive skills, emphasizing that the three-time All-Star has faced similar struggles in the past and works hard to improve. Dombrowski explains that Turner is a proven big league player, and he believes the shortstop will perform well in critical games and moments. Turner's defensive record over his 12-year career is somewhat solid, with a career-high defensive percentage of .970 last season and only eight errors in 139 games in 2025.

The Phillies' executive also highlights that Turner has always been solid in the playoffs, recording only four errors during his first postseason in Philadelphia.

With the Phillies in the middle of a playoff push, Turner will have the rest of the season to demonstrate the strides that Dombrowski believes he is making. Turner's defensive abilities will be crucial for the team, making it more important than ever for him to improve his defensive performance.