Can you imagine Justin Turner as anything other than a Los Angeles Dodger? He was, and it can also be argued that he was lucky to ever play in L.A., as Turner seemed to have two steps away from the diamond.
Turner first made the Majors in 2009 with Baltimore and would later spend time with the Mets, but he was not impressive for either team and was non-tendered in 2013, making him a Free Agent. He was signed by the Dodgers after starring in a Cal State Fullerton alumni Game, made the Los Angeles roster in 2014, and was set to erase his past performance.
In 2014, Turner seized an opportunity due to injuries and achieved an unexpected high performance, batting .340 over 109 games. He quickly became a key player, demonstrating that his improved swing mechanics were a reliable asset rather than a coincidence. By 2016, he reached a new level of individual recognition, hitting a career-high 27 home runs and placing ninth in MVP voting. He nearly matched this success in 2017, batting .322 with a .945 OPS and earning his first All-Star appearance.
Turner became a postseason legend, creating iconic moments in Chavez Ravine. In the 2017 NLCS, he hit a walk-off home run on Kirk Gibson’s anniversary, earning NLCS MVP. He provided leadership and clutch production that helped the Dodgers reach three World Series in four years, winning in 2020. During this run, he set franchise records in postseason hits, home runs, and RBIs, demonstrating mastery in high-stakes games.
Despite his status as the "Face of the Franchise" and his recent win of the Roberto Clemente Award, the organization chose not to exercise his $16 million option, favoring a younger, more flexible roster. Turner compiled 1,088 hits, 156 home runs, and a .296 batting average for the team.
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