Turnbull making 'bittersweet' return to Detroit

This story was excerpted from Todd Zolecki’s Phillies Beat newsletter, written this week by Paul Casella. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Spencer Turnbull kept coming back to one word to describe his time in Detroit:

Bittersweet.

The Tigers drafted Turnbull in the second round in 2014, and he made his MLB debut with the club on Sept. 14, 2018. Turnbull etched his name into the franchise record book with a no-hitter on May 19, 2021.

Three weeks later, on June 4, after pitching four innings against the White Sox, he left the game with a right elbow strain, and after testing, found out it was a season ending injury. Turnbull underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the rest of '21 and all of '22.

He would be back on the mound 23 months later during Spring Training, on March 4, 2023, only throwing two innings against the Blue Jays. Not too long after that, he and the organization would have a falling out of sorts that ultimately led to the end of his time in Detroit.

So how does he reflect on his Tigers tenure overall?

"It's a tough question," Turnbull said before a long pause. "Bittersweet."

After another pause, he continued: "I'll always be thankful for getting my start in Detroit. I grew a lot, learned a lot. I spent a lot of time there -- 10 years in the organization. That was all I knew for a long time."

But it came to an abrupt -- and premature -- end last year.

Detroit optioned Turnbull to Triple-A Toledo after a rough outing last May, but he reported a neck injury that he’d sustained a couple of outings earlier and instead went on the injured list. A similar situation played out in August before the Tigers ultimately non-tendered him in November.

"Things definitely didn't end the way I would have liked them to end," Turnbull said. "It left a bittersweet taste in my mouth. But overall, I remember my time there very fondly. Love the fans, love Detroit, love my teammates and my coaches."

Turnbull ended up signing with the Phillies on Feb. 14, and he will face many of his former teammates on Wednesday afternoon, when he takes the mound opposite the Tigers at Comerica Park. It will be his first start since April 30 -- and one that wasn’t in the plans until the Phillies placed Taijuan Walker on the IL on Sunday morning with right index finger inflammation.

"I'm not trying to read into it too much; it's just another game," Turnbull said before reconsidering. "But yeah, I might have a few extra ... somethings on the inside, for sure."

For Turnbull, it's a chance to show not only his former team that he's still got it, but his current team, too.

The veteran righty posted a 1.67 ERA in six starts while filling in for Walker in April. But for multiple reasons -- primarily Turnbull’s workload management and relief experience -- he was moved to the bullpen upon Walker's return.

“The situation is tough with Tai's finger; I want him to get back to being his best and get healthy and get back as soon as he can,” Turnbull said. “I’ve enjoyed being in the bullpen and learning a new thing. I want to do whatever I can to help the team win.

"But, obviously, I prefer starting.”

Now in late June, Turnbull's innings shouldn't be a concern moving forward. Of course, who holds the No. 5 spot in the rotation won't matter much come October. Barring injury, Philadelphia won’t start anyone outside of Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez in a postseason series.

Still, Turnbull wants to prove to the Phillies that he is a viable option if another need arises down the stretch. He also wants to prove it to potential future suitors considering he's on a one-year, $2 million contract.

And he wants to prove it to the Tigers.

"Sometimes all somebody needs is to just kind of get a fresh start somewhere and kind of just get a reset with everything," Turnbull said. "I think that's what the Phillies have done for me so far. I couldn't ask for a better team, better teammates, better organization to do it. The fans and the city here, they are the best. It's been incredible."