Justin Turner became a key member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, spending nine seasons with the team and becoming a superstar on and off the field.
First signed as a non-roster invitee for Spring Training on Feb. 6, 2014, Turner made the roster as a utilityman and went on to become their everyday third baseman.
After the 2022 season, Turner’s time with the Dodgers came to an end and he ended up signing with the Boston Red Sox. While Turner hoped to return to L.A., the two sides were unable to work out a deal.
Now, he returns to face the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium for the first time since leaving the club in free agency, and he’s excited to be back in Southern California.
“First time coming back after a few years, it’s definitely exciting,” Turner said. “This place is very special to me. Nine years of my career here on a lot of really good baseball teams, won a championship in ’20, just looking forward to seeing a lot of the fans and hopefully put on a good show for them.”
Turner spent one year in Boston before joining the Toronto Blue Jays and then being traded to the Seattle Mariners ahead of the trade deadline.
After being dealt to the Mariners, Turner checked the schedule and saw he would be returning to L.A. for the first time since leaving the team.
“It was one of the first things I did, actually,” Turner said. “I saw it was on the schedule, so it’s been on my mind since I was a Mariner. Obviously looking forward to today, getting back on the field and playing in front of these fans.”
Turner hit .296/.375/.490 with 235 doubles, 156 home runs and 574 RBI in 1,075 games during his career with the Dodgers. He holds the all-time Dodgers franchise record in hit-by-pitches.
Turner also left his mark in October, holding numerous Dodgers playoff records, including most games played (86), hits (85), RBI (42), runs scored (43), doubles (19) and hit by pitch (13), and he’s tied for home runs with Corey Seager (13) and walks with Max Muncy (38).
But for all Turner did on the field, his impact off the field was arguably just as great, if not greater. That made him a fan-favorite who developed a deep relationship with fans in L.A.
In 2019, the Los Angeles City Council even proclaimed January 22 as Justin Turner Day in the city.
“It was incredible. For nine years, living here in the offseason, no matter where you go in L.A., you see Dodger Blue no matter what time of year it is,” Turner said.
“December, driving down Beverly, and you see a Fernando Valenzuela jersey, you see a Sandy Koufax jersey, you see the Dodger hats. The fans here live and breathe, cry and sweat Dodger Blue.
“I think Tommy (Lasorda) said it best, ‘That Dodger Blue is running through the veins of every single fan in the city.’ I can’t thank them enough for the support that they gave me.
“Not only on the field but through our foundation and everything we were able to accomplish, all the people we were able to impact because of the support that we got from the people of this amazing city.
“They’ll always have a special place in my heart.”
Prior to the game, Turner also had the opportunity to catch up with some of his former teammates, and he has enjoyed watching some of the younger players come up and develop into Major League players.
“That’s one thing that’s going to be special about tonight, is looking across the field and seeing some of these guys that were still coming up when I was there, and are turning into pretty good ballplayers; Gavin Lux being one of them,” Turner said.
“Obviously there’s a ton of guys over there that I have a lot of history with. It’s always fun to get back out and compete against them.”
Justin Turner hoping for cheers from Dodgers fans
Dodgers fans have traditionally given a warm welcome to the former players who return to Chavez Ravine, and Turner hoped he would get a similar cheer from the fans in his return.
“I don’t know. I’m sure they’ll boo me,” Turner joked. “I mean, I went to San Francisco, I got booed. Go to San Diego, I get booed. Go to Arizona, I get booed.
“So I’m hoping I hear some cheers, because I think that will mean I did some pretty good things in Dodger Blue.”
The return was surely emotional for Turner, but going in to it, he said it was “hard to say” how he would feel when greeted by Dodgers fans again.
“I would like to think I’m just going to enjoy it, smile, and Kourt and Bo might be out there with me, so just kind of take it all in,” Turner said. “When that time comes, I don’t know how it’s going to feel.
“I don’t know what emotions are going to be going through me. I’ve seen a lot of guys go back and have to deal with that, and they’ve had a pretty wide variety of emotions. I guess we’ll see a little bit later.”
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