Over a decade after departing Raleigh for the major-league stage, Trea Turner returned to where his journey began to cement his legacy. Turner was recently honored on the field during North Carolina State’s football game against Florida State as one of four alumni inducted into the program’s Baseball Ring of Honor.
Turner was joined by a trio of right-handers who have become legendary figures in Wolfpack history: Mike Caldwell, Dan Plesac, and Carlos Rodon.
“These four men represent everything that makes NC State Baseball special," said head coach Elliott Avent in a press release. "Each of them elevated this program and contributed to this proud and strong tradition like many great players before and after them, creating memories for fans and players in ways that will be felt for generations."
The inductees’ numbers will now be displayed on the outfield wall at NC State’s Doak Field. Turner, who wore No. 8 during his Wolfpack career, stood alongside former teammate Carlos Rodon — the pair anchoring the 2013 team that reached the College World Series semifinals.
For Turner, a three-time All-American and the 2014 recipient of the Brooks Wallace Award as the nation’s top collegiate shortstop, the honor recognizes a college career that still resonates. He set the program’s single-season record with 57 stolen bases as a freshman and finished with 113 total, the most in NC State history.
Drafted 13th overall by the San Diego Padres in 2014, Turner arrived in the majors quickly, making his debut the following season with the Washington Nationals.
A decade later, his professional résumé continues to mirror that early promise. A 2019 World Series champion with the Nationals, Turner has earned three All-Star nods and received MVP votes in four different seasons. In 2025, he hit .304 to secure the second batting title of his career — becoming just the ninth player in Phillies history to win one.
Turner recently completed his third season of an 11-year, $300-million contract with Philadelphia. The shortstop was a consistent offensive presence throughout 2025, helping guide the Phillies to their second straight National League East title and their second consecutive appearance in the NLDS.
For Turner, this marked a formal homecoming, a public monument to a legacy that began with a quick-footed freshman in Raleigh and has matured into one of the most dynamic shortstops of his generation.
