Los Angeles Dodgers: Trea Turner just added a new dimension
By Kevin Henry
It didn’t take long for Trea Turner to make an impact in his first start for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Turner, acquired from the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline along with pitcher Max Scherzer, took his first at-bat as a member of the Dodgers on Friday night in a ninth-inning pinch hit role. However, on Saturday, batting leadoff and playing second base, Turner immediately made his presence felt.
Here is the key threat that Trea Turner brings to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup
Drawing a walk from Los Angeles Angels starter Jaime Barria, Turner motored home from first on Max Muncy‘s RBI double to give the Dodgers a quick 1-0 edge.
It wasn’t just that Turner scored, however. It was the manner in which he did it.
According to a tweet from MLB.com’s Mike Petriello, Turner sped around the bases at 30.6 feet per second. That’s not only the fastest that of any Dodgers player this season, but it’s also one of the fastest marks in MLB this year.
Take a look at Turner’s display of speed below.
Trea with the wheels! pic.twitter.com/ZmDZpDdsnu
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 8, 2021
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Turner’s mark of 30.6 marks the first time all season that any Dodgers player has crossed the 30-feet per second threshold. Gavin Lux held the previous high for Los Angeles this season at 29.1 feet per second.
According to Baseball Savant, Baltimore’s Jorge Mateo has logged the highest sprint speed of the year at 30.8 feet per second. Turner’s mark of 30.7 earlier in the season while still with the Nationals is tied for the second-fastest of the season along with Tim Locastro of the New York Yankees.
With Turner at the top of the lineup, the Dodgers have added a speed element that is needed for the defending World Champions. Entering Saturday’s play, the Dodgers have swiped a combined 36 bases on the season, tied for 24th among MLB’s 30 teams. Turner, by the way, has 21 on the season by himself.
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The flash that Turner showed in the first inning of his first start in Dodger blue is a positive sign for a team reeling from injuries and trying to catch the rival San Francisco Giants for the National League West lead.