WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Trea Turner is fast, real fast.
According to MLB advanced media, Turner averaged a speed of 30.1 feet/sec in plays that qualified.
That ranked fifth in the majors.
One time when Trea Turner was legging out a triple, he clocked in at a speed of 22.7 miles per hour.
That’s faster than the fastest ball-carrier in the NFL. The 49ers’ Matt Breida’s fastest speed was in week 12, when he topped out at 22.09 miles per hour on a 33-yard run.
At one point the Nationals shortstop ran from home to first in 3.7 seconds.
That was only six tenth of a second slower than the fastest time ever in Major League history, set by Mickey Mantle.
As fast as Trea Turner is, he can almost steal bases at will.
The Nationals shortstop is a little more modest about his speed.
“I can run,” says Turner. “Faster than some, but not all. It’s something I’ve had since I was a little kid. I’ve been fast ever since I was a little kid, so I try to use it as much as I can.”
In 2018, Turner stole 42 bases for the Nationals. That total was the second highest in the majors that season, and was a new Nationals record.
Nationals Manager Davey Martinez hopes to see Turner more active on the basepaths in 2019.
“He’s exciting,” says Martinez. “We let the reigns go when he’s going. He’s on his own, he can steal when he wants. Kind of put the pressure on him a little bit about maybe having more attempts.”
We asked Davey Martinez which one player he wouldn’t give the keys to his car to. Davey responded Trea because of his speed.
“Just looks like he’s fast,” says Davey Martinez. “Likes doing everything fast.”