Brice Turang

Brice Craig Turang has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on November 21, 1999, this professional American athlete has made a name for himself as a second baseman and shortstop for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Turang’s journey to MLB began in earnest when the Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the first round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, making him the 21st overall pick. After an impressive five years in the minors, Turang finally made his MLB debut in 2023.

Turang’s early years showcase his tremendous athletic talent. He attended Santiago High School in Corona, California, where he consistently showed promise as a future professional baseball player. As a freshman, his standout performance led to him being named the National Freshman of the Year by MaxPreps. This came after hitting an impressive .475 with two home runs and 27 runs batted in (RBIs). Moreover, he was recognized by USA Baseball with the Richard W. “Dick” Case Award.

In his junior year in 2017, he continued to impress scouts, coaches, and teammates alike by hitting .465 and only striking out once in 101 at-bats. Senior year kept the upward trajectory going as Turang batted .352 with five home runs and 21 RBIs. Following his high school career, Turang committed to Louisiana State University (LSU) with plans to play college baseball.

However, the 2018 MLB draft altered this course. After being selected by the Brewers, Turang signed for a $3.4 million signing bonus. He started off in the Arizona League Brewers before being quickly promoted to the Helena Brewers in August of the same year. Within his first year, he managed to bat .283 with one home run, 18 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases across 42 games between the two clubs.

The successful transition to professional baseball continued in 2019 when he started the season with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. This period led to him earning Midwest League All-Star honors. After achieving a .287/.384/.376 slash-line with two home runs, 31 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases over 82 games, Turang was promoted once again. This time, he found his new home with the Carolina Mudcats in July. Although his batting average dropped to .200 over 47 games, Turang still managed one home run, six RBIs, and nine stolen bases.

Turang’s progress was temporarily halted during 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. But in 2021, he returned to form. Starting off with the Biloxi Shuckers and then promoted to the Nashville Sounds in early August, he managed .258/.347/.362 with six home runs, 53 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases across 117 games.

In 2022, Turang took another step forward whilst playing for the Triple-A Nashville. There, he achieved a slash line of .286/.360/.412 with 13 home runs, 78 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. Recognizing his potential, the Brewers added Turang to their 40-man roster in November 2022 to protect him from being picked in the Rule 5 draft. By March 2023, the Brewers were confident in his ability and added him to their Opening Day roster.

Turang’s MLB debut was an impressive one, where he filled the second base position and batted ninth, managing to hit 1-for-3. His first notable achievement came just days into the new season when he hit his first double, driving in Rowdy Tellez and thereby notching up his first Major League RBI. In the season home opener against the New York Mets on April 3, Turang hit his first career home run, a grand slam off Tommy Hunter no less.

Athletic talent seems to run in Turang’s family. His father, Brian Turang, had a stint in MLB playing for the Seattle Mariners. His mother Carrie and his sister Brianna both have a history in the Women’s College World Series for Long Beach State and Oklahoma respectively. Brianna later married Tress Way, a punter in the National Football League (NFL). Turang’s other sisters, Carissa and Cabria, played soccer and softball at Oklahoma City University, Cal State Fullerton, and Utah respectively, whilst his sister Bailee played volleyball at Southern Nazarene University. This family of athletes surely played a part in shaping Turang into the burgeoning MLB star he is now.