Rob Thomson, Phillies will consider moving Kyle Schwarber out of leadoff spot in 2025, Trea Turner a prime candidate to takeover

Trea Turner Leading Off? – For the past three seasons, Kyle Schwarber leading off has been a source of constant debate. It’s annoying given the production, but don’t be surprised if we finally see a new guy at the top of the order for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2025.

On one hand, Schwarber sets the tone early with game-breaking power, launching a record 15 leadoff homers last season and another in October to kick off the NLDS against the Mets. The Phillies have gone 28-9 when he starts a game with a bang.

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But here’s the problem—97 of Schwarber’s 146 homers as a Phillie have been solo shots. Schwarber’s high OBP (.343, .323, .366 over the past three years) makes him an unconventional but effective leadoff man, but a guy with 46+ homers in each of the past two seasons might be better served driving in runs than setting the table.

Finally, it appears that Rob Thomson is considering a change.

The Case for Trea Turner at Leadoff

If Schwarber moves out of the leadoff spot, Trea Turner is the most logical replacement. While Bryson Stott has the skillset for it, Thomson pointed out that stacking lefties at the top of the order could make the lineup too vulnerable to left-handed relievers.

So Turner, who has led off just 15 times as a Phillie, would get the first crack at it. He hasn’t exactly thrived in that role with a .299 OBP in those games, but the Phillies aren’t getting the prime Trea Turner they expected when they signed him.

Trea Turner’s .279/.328/.463 slash line in two seasons with the Phils is a far cry from the .316/.364/.514 he posted in the three seasons prior.

Turner is still an elite speed threat, and if he can get on base more consistently, it changes the entire offensive dynamic. He’d be setting the table for Schwarber, Harper, Bohm, and Castellanos instead of following the light-hitting bottom of the order.

No Downside to Trying It, Right?

At the end of the day, nothing is set in stone. If Turner struggles at leadoff, the Phillies can easily pivot back to Schwarber. But if Turner rediscovers his form, it could unleash the offense in a way that better balances power, speed, and run production.

The Phillies need Trea Turner to be better in 2025, regardless of where he hits.

He’s been chasing more pitches (35% chase rate in Philly vs. 28% before), and he’s become too reliant on pull-side power. A line-drive approach, more patience at the plate, and utilizing his speed could make this lineup an absolute nightmare for opposing pitchers.

We’ll get our first look at Thomson’s experiments when Spring Training opens in two weeks.

Whether the Phillies actually pull the trigger on Schwarber moving down remains to be seen, but the fact that they’re finally considering it shows they’re looking for ways to maximize this offense.

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