Justin Turner went from All-Star snub to breaking a Final Vote record by receiving 20.8 million votes to earn the last spot on the National League roster for the 2017 MLB All-Star Game. He surpassed the mark of 19.7 million votes Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman received in 2013.
Turner is among the Los Angeles Dodgers’ six players named to this year’s Midsummer Classic. He’s only the second in the organization’s history to win the Final Vote, joining Nomar Garciaparra (2006).
“I don’t think it will set in for a while,” Turner said of his first career All-Star selection. “The amount of support, the votes, setting a record, is very humbling. I’m so appreciative for all the Dodgers fans across the country and world who got out and voted.
“It’s something I don’t take lightly. I’ll forever be grateful to the Los Angeles Dodgers and their fans for what they did for me this week.”
The Dodgers, Turner’s fiancée, Kourtney, and others utilized social media to launch a grassroots campaign in support of one of the game’s top hitters. There were also some reprimanding by Kenley Jansen for the fans’ failure to vote Corey Seager and Turner as All-Star Game starters.
“I think Kenley caught a little heat for what he said, but he also sparked a huge mob of voters to get out there and prove to everyone Dodgers fans are the best fans in baseball, which we’ve said all along,” Turner said.
“They went out and proved it this week, and I couldn’t be happier. I get to reap the benefit.” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and manager Dave Roberts were among those to vote online.
Friedman had last done so in the eighth grade, while it was a first for Roberts. “To know J.T. and how much he cares, he doesn’t take for granted being a Major League player and playing for the Dodgers,” Roberts explained.
“He’s a guy that’s always out in the community, he’s the glue of our ballclub, holds guys accountable, plays the game hard every single night, so you want to do right by him. That’s what prompted me to vote diligently.”
Ever the team-first personality, Turner looked beyond the result the groundswell support had for him. “I think what it did is set a bar for the L.A. Dodgers and the fan base and All-Star Games for years to come,” he said.
