Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner’s rise to stardom is a unique one, as after being non-tendered by the New York Mets after the 2013 season the Dodgers signed him to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.
Expectations were not high for Turner, but he exceeded them by a longshot and just three years later he re-signed with the Dodgers on a four-year, $64 million contract, and then a few months later he played in his first Major League All-Star game.
Turner’s 2017 season was a memorable one, as he ranked third in the National League in hitting by slashing .322/.415/.530 with 21 home runs and 71 RBIs.
Turner was also outstanding in the postseason, hitting four big home runs including the Dodgers first postseason walk-off home run since Kirk Gibson’s famous World Series walk-off in 1988.
Adding to Turner’s memorable 2017 season, he recently got married to his long-time girlfriend Kourtney, as many of his teammates were on-hand for the ceremony, which was officiated by Dodger great Orel Hershiser.
Turner and his wife are currently honeymooning in Dubai, but it appears he is still working on his swing as he posted a video to his personal Instagram account of him playing cricket:
The Dodgers usually report to Spring Training in the middle of February, so Turner still has some time to vacation before he gets back to work.
After the long World Series run which expanded the Dodgers season by about a month, manager Dave Roberts said he plans to ease so of the veterans into Spring Training in order to lessen their workload, so Turner should be fresh and ready for the 2018 season by Opening Day.
