Trea Turner nearing return, Edmundo Sosa holding it down, and Cristopher Sánchez keeps trending upwards

Edmundo Sosa – The Phillies played it smart with Trea Turner in Monday’s home opener, giving the star shortstop one more day of rest after a mild back spasm sidelined him over the weekend in Washington. With Tuesday’s off-day baked into the schedule, Turner effectively gets a three-day reset before what sounds like a probable return on Wednesday against Colorado.

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Turner took ground balls and swings early Monday and ultimately made a key plate appearance as a pinch-hitter in the seventh. With two outs, a runner in scoring position, and the Phillies trailing by a run, he stepped in for Brandon Marsh and worked a walk to extend the inning — which ended with a go-ahead double from Edmundo Sosa and a 437-foot nuke from Kyle Schwarber.

Not a bad return-to-action moment.

Edmundo Sosa Earning Every At-Bat

While Turner’s been sidelined, Edmundo Sosa has stepped in and thrived, looking confident and consistent at the plate. He started at shortstop for the third straight game Monday and came into the night hitting .500 (4-for-8) with a double and a walk. He added a go-ahead two-run double in the seventh and has made the most of every opportunity so far.

EDMUNDO SOSA. FINALLY#RingTheBell | #Phillies pic.twitter.com/xgpcFUL7ei

— The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) March 31, 2025

It’s early, but Sosa is reminding fans that he’s more than just a plug-in utility guy — he can be a legitimate spark when needed.

Phillies’ bats have dominated bullpen pitching through 4 games

JT Realmuto Back Behind the Plate

J.T. Realmuto was also back in the lineup Monday after taking Sunday off with a foot contusion from a foul ball. Though still a little sore, he was healthy enough to catch Cristopher Sánchez, who’s becoming a trendy breakout pick across baseball.

Sánchez picked up where he left off last season, flashing increased velocity thanks to a winter spent bulking up his 6-foot-6 frame. He averaged 96.5 mph with his fastball on Monday — up two full ticks from his 2023 average — and looked every bit like the guy who finished 10th in Cy Young voting a year ago.

He settled in after a solo homer in the sixth and struck out five of six hitters during one dominant stretch. The Phillies believe he can take another leap in 2025, and Monday was more evidence that they might be right.

So no Trea? No problem — for now. The Phillies’ depth showed up big in the home opener, and the stars seem ready to return. This is the kind of early-season flexibility that can make a real difference come September.

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