Trea Turner looks back fondly on days with Nationals before return to D.C.

Trea Turner is returning to Washington D.C. in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform, and he looked back on his tenure with the Nationals.

At the trade deadline last year, it was expected that the Washington Nationals would move starting pitcher Max Scherzer. What made his trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers much more of a bombshell is the fact that it also included shortstop Trea Turner.

Now, after near a year with the Dodgers, Turner returns to Nationals Park for the first time as a visitor. In an interview with Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic (subscription required), Turner brought up memories he had with the team, specifically the 2019 team that went from last place to World Series champions.

Trea Turner reminisces about time with Nationals

“I think we won because we kind of liked each other more than the other team,” Turner said. “If we had to run it back, it probably wouldn’t have happened again, because the odds were not in our favor. But that’s why it’s a story that a lot of people will always remember.”

That season was a special one, as the Nationals sat in last place with a 19-31 record and changes were going to take place. Yet, Washington went on the run of all runs at the end of the season, clinched a Wild Card spot, then defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, the Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals to make it to the World Series. They then defeated the Houston Astros in seven games to win their first Commissioner’s Trophy in franchise history.

Despite being with the team since making his debut with Washington, the team opted against keeping him with one year remaining on his current deal. Turner said that he thought he’d be with the Nationals, but that was not in the plans.

“I think everything I said before was true,” Turner said. “I thought I’d be there. But I think it is what it is. I’m not mad about it. I thought I’d be with the Padres for a long time (before they traded him in 2014), too. In the moment, based on the things, situation and what I was told and how I felt and whatnot, I thought it would last. But that’s not always the case.”

Turner is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and is among the top shortstops available, along with Xander Bogaerts (if he leaves the Boston Red Sox). Through 40 games this year, Turner is slashing .290/.354/.413 while recording two home runs, 29 RBI and 45 hits.

It will be interesting to see where Turner ends up after this season. But when it comes to the first game at 7:05 p.m. ET on Monday, May 23, Turner will no doubt be in store for an emotional moment.