When the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the Seattle Mariners on getaway day, their lineup was without several regular players. Most had already begun the trek back to California in advance of the exhibition Freeway Series and Opening Day.
Justin Turner was among those who did not play Wednesday, though he’s expected to be in the lineup for much of the series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. While the 32-year-old presumably is happy to be back home, leaving Arizona may come with some sadness considering the memorable spring he had.
Not only did Turner propose to his girlfriend at the Grand Canyon, but he also batted .391/.472/.674 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 18 Cactus League games.
In a recent interview with Alanna Rizzo of SportsNet LA, Turner said he is pleased with his standing as the regular season draws closer:
“Things are feeling pretty good right now. It’s not always about results. It’s about how you’re seeing the ball, types of swings you’re taking on pitches, and sometimes you’re working on sitting on pitches in certain situations. Right now, everything feels pretty good.”
The fact that he is coming out of the spring healthy is a big positive for Turner, as he spent much of last year recovering from offseason knee surgery. He overcame a slow start at the plate to hit a career-high 27 home runs and drive in a career-high 90 runs in 2016.
Turner has come a long way in the past few years with the Dodgers since signing a Minor League contract with a non-roster invitation to 2014 Spring Training. He earned a spot on the Opening Day roster of that season, and later played his way to becoming the everyday third baseman midway through the 2015 season.
Turner and the Dodgers agreed to terms on a four-year, $64 million contract during the offseason. His deal was among the club’s lavish spending to retain the core group that fell two wins shy of reaching the World Series for the first time since 1988.
