Justin Turner

Justin Turner's Biography

Justin Matthew Turner is an American professional baseball infielder and designated hitter, born on November 23, 1984, in Long Beach, California, to parents John and Betsy Turner. He has one younger sister. Turner was raised with a passion for the game and played high school baseball at Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California, where his exceptional performance on the field earned him three-time All-Suburban first-team honors as a shortstop and second baseman.

His passion for baseball saw him hitting a .514 average during league play during his senior year and earning most valuable player honors. This achievement guided his team to a league title. After graduating from high school, Turner went on to attend California State University, Fullerton, where he studied kinesiology and passionately continued to play baseball for the Titans, a decision that further escalated his baseball career as he went on to earn first-year All-American honors from Baseball America in 2003.

Achievements came pouring in for Turner as he audaciously took on the role of the starting second baseman for the Titans. A memorable episode in his career, he was named to the 2003 College World Series all-tournament team. Unfortunately, during the series, Turner was struck in the face by a fast pitch but bounced back and proved his tenacity by his performance in the two-game final against Texas in the 2004 College World Series, which the Titans won.

Though selected in the 29th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Yankees, Turner decided not to sign. However, he was given a second chance at building a major league career when the Cincinnati Reds picked him in the seventh round of the 2006 MLB draft.

Justin started his professional journey with the Billings Mustangs, the Reds’ Rookie League affiliate, playing various infield positions and even in the outfield. He finished the season remarkably well with a leading team batting average of .338. In less than two years, his performance led to his promotion to Double-A Chattanooga. In 2008, at only 23, he completed the season with an impressive batting average of .289.

In December 2008, during the Winter Meetings, Turner, along with Ryan Freel and Brandon Waring, was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in return for catcher Ramón Hernández. Turner’s performance during spring training was exceptional, leading to his assignment to Triple-A Norfolk for the 2009 season.

Turner’s significant career milestone came in 2009 when the Orioles bought his contract, leading to his major league debut that same year at Fenway Park. He got his first major league hit at Yankee Stadium, leading to a promising finale to the season.

Turner had the opportunity to play for clubs such as the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays before finding his current home with the Seattle Mariners. As part of the Dodgers, Turner was named an All-Star in 2017 and won the prestigious 2017 National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. His career trajectory also witnessed another glorious feather in his cap when he won the 2020 World Series with the Dodgers.

Despite his multifaceted career and numerous team changes, Justin Turner’s sportsmanship and dedication secured his place in the pantheon of great baseball players. Whether it be outstanding infield performances, mastery at batting, reliable team playing, or his resilience to bounce back from injuries, Turner has proven time and again his mettle on the baseball field, leaving an indelible imprint in the annals of Major League Baseball. As Turner continues to build on his current two-year contract with the Dodgers, his spellbinding performances are sure to uphold his status as one of American baseball’s most accomplished athletes.