Phillies’ Trea Turner Reacts to Retirement News

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Phillies’ Trea Turner Reacts to Retirement News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Xavier Constantino | Last updated May 21, 2026 3:02 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies have turned their 2026 season around under interim manager Don Mattingly, going 16-6 since a 9-19 start and climbing back to 25-25. Shortstop Trea Turner has been a work in progress at the plate, posting a .239 batting average with five home runs and a .652 OPS through 49 games, but Thursday brought news away from Philadelphia.

North Carolina State baseball head coach Elliott Avent, who coached Turner from 2012 to 2014, announced his retirement Thursday after 30 seasons leading the Wolfpack, according to NC State Athletics.

Turner acknowledged the news by sharing the program’s retirement announcement on his Instagram story.

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The two share a bond that has extended beyond Turner's time in Raleigh. In 2024, the Turner family helped support and fund the launch of a "Victory over Cancer" game at Doak Field, raising more than $50,000 for the Jimmy V Foundation's cancer research efforts. The event has expanded every year since.

Avent, 70, retires as the winningest coach in program history with 1,103 wins at NC State. He guided the Wolfpack to 35 NCAA regionals, six NCAA Super Regionals and three College World Series trips in 2013, 2021, and 2024, with another opportunity to finish this season with a trip to Omaha.

Out of 137 players who were drafted under Avent's tenure at NC State, Turner was among his most decorated, selected 13th overall by the San Diego Padres in the 2014 MLB Draft alongside fellow first-rounder Carlos Rodon, who went third overall.

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (7) © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Avent leaves behind a program richer than he found it. For Turner, now in his 12th MLB season, that foundation has been on display for over a decade and figures to carry him for years to come.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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