Turner May Not Need Rehab, Marsh Takes Next Step originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia
LONDON — The Phillies brought Trea Turner to London as he continues to rehab a hamstring strain that has kept him out since May 3.
They did not, however, cross the pond with Brandon Marsh (hamstring) and Kody Clemens (back spasms), who went on the injured list on Monday.
The justification for bringing Turner, but not the other two, was that Turner was able to participate in baseball activities while the other two had not been released when the Phillies left for London on Wednesday night.
“With Brandon and Clem, the timing was just horrible,” manager Rob Thomson said three hours before the first game of the London Series between the Phillies and Mets.
“I told them that since they can’t practice baseball, when we get there with two days off, it will hurt them upon their return. They were disappointed, but they understood.”
Marsh is making progress. He was sent to Lehigh Valley on Saturday to begin baseball activities and will spend two days there. Then, he will either join the Phillies for their series in Boston to continue his rehab or do the same in Reading. The IronPigs will be on the road early next week, which is why he didn’t want to sit around.
Marsh described his injury earlier in the week as even milder than his lower-grade hamstring strain. It will be eligible to be activated for the first time on June 12th.
Turner on Saturday caught ground balls, batted into the cage and ran on a football field outside London Stadium because the Phillies wanted him to run on grass instead of grass.
Turner will continue his expansion process in Boston, but Thomson did not offer a date for his return. Thomson said, however, that Turner cannot go on a rehabilitation mission. The Phillies would probably feel more comfortable if he participated after missing more than a month, but Turner has the right to refuse. When asked if he thought Turner would choose not to go to rehab, Thomson smiled and said, “I do.”
The Phillies were 22-11 when Turner suffered the injury and have been 22-8 since. Edmundo Sosa started 25 games during that period and hit .296/.360/.556 with four doubles, four triples, three home runs and 14 RBI. He started again at shortstop on Saturday against Mets lefty Sean Manaea. Phillies in Saturday’s lineup went a collective 18-for-45 against Manaea, hitting .400 with five doubles, five homers and a triple.
