It didn’t even take the Washington Nationals a week to lose a key player to injury in 2019.
The team announced on Wednesday that their young shortstop Trea Turner suffered a broken finger in their 8-2 Tuesday night loss against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The 25-year-old suffered the injury to his right index finger while attempting a bunt in the first inning of the game.
Turner has been a key piece of the Nationals’ puzzle ever since he debuted with the team in 2015. He has compiled a .289/.347/.460 slash line in his two and a half big league seasons. A constant threat on the bases, he has stolen 128 bases in only 364 career games.
He led the National League in stolen bases in 2018 with 43.
Turner’s injury is another disappointing development in what has been a disappointing start to the season for Washington. The team has started off the season 1-4, losing their home opener to the Philadelphia Phillies and former Nats RF Bryce Harper in Tuesday night’s game.
It is still unknown how much time Harper will miss, but it seems unlikely that he will return before mid-May.
Wilmer Difo will fill his spot in Washington’s infield in the meantime.
