Dusty Baker says Trea Turner will have to adjust as league adjusts to him

Shortstop Trea Turner got out of the blocks quickly to begin this season. But he has recently slowed down a bit at the plate.

Prior to Tuesday's game, manager Dusty Baker said there is always a period of adjustment when the league sees you can hit the fastball.

"What I've seen is the league has adjusted to him," Baker said. "Now it's up to him to adjust back.

"This is the big leagues, man, with the video and the advanced charts. They're not going to let you keep killing them in this league. Everybody has to make that adjustment from time to time. He's a smart kid. He'll make them. We're helping him to make them."

Turner did have a hamstring issue that did not allow him to reach his full speed, Baker said. Baker smiled and noted you can't steal bases if you are not base.

"I think he is confident that his legs are OK now," Baker said. "Just that he's just not getting on to use legs. Slows you down quite a bit."

Baker also said it is not about Turner swinging at first pitches that is causing his downturn.

"Nobody complained about Trea swinging early in the count last year," Baker said. "It helps to get the pitcher's number up. But you can't walk them across the plate, you got to bat them across the plate. Walks have a definite place in the game. But hitting is not called hitting for nothing."

Turner made a good step offensively in the Nationals' 10-1 win over the Mariners on Tuesday. He went 2-for-5 with an RBI triple, a double and a run scored. He had failed to hit safely in three of his last four games before last night, but is now 5-for-18 (.278) with a double, triple, three RBIs, three runs scored and a stolen base over his last four games.