The Boston Red Sox announced the signing of Justin Turner to a one-year contract with a player option for 2024. Darwinzon Hernandez was designated for assignment in order to make room for Turner on the Red Sox’s 40-man roster.
Turner signing with Boston brought an end to his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers after nine remarkable seasons. He signed with the team on a Minor League contract in 2014 and went on to become a clubhouse leader and pillar in the community.
Turner hit .296/.375/.490 with 235 doubles, 156 home runs and 574 RBI over 1,075 games during his career with the Dodgers. He holds several Dodgers postseason records and is the all-time franchise leader in hit-by-pitches.
“I don’t think many kids are dreaming about holding that record,” Turner told DodgerBlue.com after breaking the Dodgers hit-by-pitch record in 2020. “But I don’t think I’m catching anyone on the Dodgers home run list.”
Turner signing with the Red Sox came to fruition after the Dodgers lured J.D. Martinez to Los Angeles. The two are expected to be the primary designated hitter for their respective new teams. Turner may additionally play some first base for the Red Sox.
He started the 2022 season slowly but rebounded to hit .278/.350/.438 with 13 home runs and a 123 wRC+. Turner additionally set a career high with 36 doubles, passing the 34 he hit during the 2016 season.
Off the field he and Kourtney Turner were recognized for their endless charitable work, with Justin receiving the 2022 Roberto Clemente Award. It was Turner’s first time winning the prestigious award and his fifth nomination.
“This is a tremendous honor and a very special award. I think when you think about baseball and the history and all the great accolades that can be achieved on the field, this is one that stands out above all of them for me,” Turner said during a press conference to accept the Clemente Award.
“Because it’s a way that my wife and I have the opportunity to give back in the community, to utilize our platform in a meaningful, positive way. To help lift people up who are in need and in times of pain, especially the last few years that we’ve been through with the pandemic as it hit the entire world very hard, but it was especially tough for Angelenos.
“And to be able to have this foundation, this resource to go through to have an impact and dive into impacting people’s lives and lifting them up and providing them with supplies, resources, anything that they need in tough times has been special to us.
“As a Los Angeles Dodger the bar was already set pretty high for Kourt and I with guys like Steve Garvey and Clayton Kershaw who are obviously previous winners. To be able to follow in their footsteps and try to make the organization proud and make the Clemente family proud is something that we hold near and dear to our heart.”
The Justin Turner Foundation was established in 2016 to support homeless veterans, children (and their families) battling life-altering illnesses and diseases, and provide for youth baseball organizations.
Red Sox players recruited Justin Turner
Along with Red Sox manager Alex Cora, multiple players were said to have recruited Turner in free agency. Turner now reunites with former Dodgers teammates Kiké Hernández, Kenley Jansen, Chris Martin and Alex Verdugo.
Are you following Dodger Blue on Instagram? It’s the best way to see exclusive coverage from games and events, get your questions answered, and more!
