Nationals promote Trea Turner to majors

The Washington Nationals have called up prospect Trea Turner to the major leagues, the team announced today:

#Nats have selected the contract of SS Trea Turner & placed 1B/OF Tyler Moore on 15-day DL: http://t.co/ncMGAYDfTI pic.twitter.com/GXGVexnNO2

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 21, 2015

Turner, the Padres' first-round pick in 2014, came to Washington as a player to be named later along with Joe Ross in the three-team trade that sent Wil Myers to San Diego and Steven Souza to Tampa Bay this offseason.

Since officially joining the Nationals on June 14, Turner has mostly played at Triple-A Syracuse after a brief stint at Double-A Harrisburg. He hit .314/.353/.431 with three home runs in 48 games with Syracuse this season, following up a strong showing at the Double-A level, where he hit .327/.382/.477 with five home runs in 58 games between Harrisburg and the Padres' Double-A affiliate in San Antonio.

After playing shortstop throughout the season, Turner played his last two games at Syracuse at second base, perhaps indicating that the Nationals plan to use him there for the remainder of 2015 before shifting him to shortstop after Ian Desmond leaves via free agency in the winter.

At 60-60 after entering the season with high expectations, the Nationals are looking for anything to provide the team a jolt in the final 42 games of the season. They are hoping Turner can provide an offensive boost over Desmond and Danny Espinosa, who have produced to a .663 and .740 OPS, respectively. Turner would also likely be a defensive upgrade at shortstop over Desmond, who has 23 errors this season.

Promoting Turner now is also Washington planning for its future, of which he figures to be a crucial cog at shortstop along with Bryce Harper in right field and Anthony Rendon at third base.