Since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 2014, Justin Turner has made his impact felt both on and off the diamond.
In addition to elevating his game and establishing himself as one of the better third basemen in all of baseball, Turner has taken on a leadership role in the clubhouse. Whether it’s giving advice to younger players or providing in-game tips, Turner is always finding ways to make his teammates better.
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw has long noticed Turner’s efforts and again praised the 33-year-old, pointing out that Turner has all the qualities of a great leader, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“I think everybody knows that he wants to win, wants to play, wants to be out there, be in that moment. That’s the start of it. From there, he’s taken on a leadership role, mentoring guys about hitting because he can really teach the game. He wants to be a guy that guys can lean on. The biggest thing for me, he’s that consistent guy with what he brings to the field, how he acts, how he comes to play the game. Great qualities of a leader.”
“Not letting people know you’re [playing hurt], that is probably the biggest thing,” said Kershaw. “Anybody can play hurt and you get that sympathy from guys. Some guys have to have that built-in crutch or excuse. You wouldn’t know with him, same like Chase [Utley]. J.T. doesn’t show it, he just goes out and plays. We all go through stuff. It’s the guys that just go out and play that ultimately get the respect of their teammates. He’s definitely done that.”
As Kershaw notes, Turner never takes a play off and always keeps a positive mindset, even if it means battling through an injury. That was the case during the World Series, where he still appeared in all seven games despite not being 100 percent.
During this past offseason, Kershaw praised Turner for being a ‘model of consistency,’ citing his work ethic and dedication to improving his overall game.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also echoed that sentiment and lauded Turner for his team-first mentality, which he believes has spread to the rest of the club.
