Trea Turner Trolls Max Scherzer with First-Pitch Challenge in Playful Reunion

Once teammates on the Washington Nationals from 2015 to 2021 and briefly with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021, Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner and Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer now find themselves on opposite sides of the diamond. Despite their current rivalry, Turner couldn’t resist having some fun at Scherzer’s expense during a recent matchup. In the Phillies’ 5–4 loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday, Turner stepped up for the game’s first at-bat and used MLB’s automated ball-strike system to challenge an obvious strike thrown by Scherzer, who has been vocal about his skepticism toward the experimental technology.
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Turner later shared the lighthearted moment with MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, noting, “I don’t think he realized that I challenged it.” The two shared a laugh, with Turner admitting he aimed to get a reaction out of his former teammate. “In the regular season, it would really piss him off,” Turner said, “but now he’s kind of faking his little act.” While Turner enjoyed seeing Scherzer’s mock frustration, the pitcher ultimately had the upper hand, holding Turner hitless in an 0-for-3 performance as the Blue Jays secured the win.