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He's only up for the weekend, and he might not start either of the next two games, but Washington Nationals' prospect Trea Turner made a strong impression in his first game in the majors this season.
Turner, 22, made his 2016 debut with the Nationals after 50 games and 222 plate appearances at Triple-A Syracuse, where the top infield prospect in the organization put up a .310/.376/.472 line with 13 doubles, five triples, three home runs and 17 stolen bases in 17 attempts.
He went 3 for 3 with a walk in four plate appearances in last night's loss to the Cincinnati Reds, singling the first time up against left-hander Brandon Finnegan, walking his second time up in the fourth, lining a double to left in the sixth and reaching first safely on an infield single to second in the eighth.
"He was hot coming in here. That's why I had him in the lineup," Dusty Baker told reporters after the Nationals' 7-2 loss in Great American Ball Park.
Baker started Turner at second last night, where he played 13 games in the majors last season and 18 games total as a professional. He hit second in the Nationals' lineup as well, behind Ben Revere and in front of Bryce Harper.
"I thought that was the best lineup. Best spot in the lineup for him tonight. The young man had a good -- he had a very good night."
It was a good night, but it will be a short stay in the majors for the 2014 1st Round pick, acquired from San Diego along with right-hander Joe Ross in the December 2014, three-team, eleven-player trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and Padres.
Turner is up for the next few days while Ryan Zimmerman is on the Paternity List, but he was told he's going to go back to Triple-A after that.
"They told me I'll be here while Zimmerman's gone," Turner explained before last night's game.
"My job is to help the team any way I can whether it's off the bench or starting, second baseman, shortstop, wherever it may be whether it's late in the game or starting and I'm just going to try to continue the roll that we're on and enjoy it."
While he's up, however, Turner said he's going to make the most of the opportunity.
"This is where everybody wants to be and to get another opportunity to do it, it’s fun and I’m going to try to take advantage of it and enjoy the time," Turner said, as quoted by MASN's Byron Kerr.
"It’s just a weekend thing," Baker said. "Unless Zim has another baby in the meantime. It’s a weekend thing. He was our best choice to do a number of things to help us. "