The Los Angeles Dodgers officially placed All-Star third baseman Justin Turner on the 10-day disabled list with a fractured left wrist to begin the 2018 season. Turner’s DL stint is retroactive to March 26, making him eligible to be reinstated to Friday, April 6.
Although the Dodgers have not given a timetable on when Turner will be able to return, he is expected to miss around the first month of the season. The injury was a tough break for Turner, as he was hit by a pitch by Oakland Athletics starter Kendall Graveman in one of the Dodgers final Cactus League games.
Turner was in the midst of a strong spring, as in 15 games he hit .333/.415/.556 with two home runs and three RBI. The 33-year-old is also coming off a career-year in 2017, when he batted .322/.415/.530 with 21 home runs and 71 RBI in 130 games, finishing eighth in the National League MVP voting.
He also had an outstanding postseason, taking home co-MVP honors in the NL Championship Series along with teammate Chris Taylor after hitting the second postseason walk-off home run in franchise history.
While being without Turner for an extended period of time will be tough, perhaps no team is more equipped to be withstand losing a star than the Dodgers, given their organizational depth and versatility.
Previously expected to start at second base, Logan Forsythe will shift over to third base, while Kiké Hernandez, Chase Utley and Austin Barnes will see extended time at second base.
Kyle Farmer, who made the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career, has also been working out at third base a lot this spring in case he is needed there.
