Justin Turner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Justin Turner |
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Turner with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017
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| Chicago Cubs – No. 3 | |||
| Infielder / Designated hitter | |||
| Born: November 23, 1984 Long Beach, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 8, 2009, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| MLB statistics (through July 12, 2025) |
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| Batting average | .284 | ||
| Hits | 1,604 | ||
| Home runs | 200 | ||
| Runs batted in | 827 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Justin Matthew Turner (born November 23, 1984), often called "Red," is an American professional baseball player. He plays as an infielder and designated hitter for the Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Before joining the Cubs, Justin played for several other MLB teams. These include the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners.
Turner played college baseball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans. He was chosen by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2006 MLB draft. He made his first major league appearance in 2009 with the Baltimore Orioles. While with the Dodgers, he was named an All-Star twice, in 2017 and 2021. He also won the MVP Award in the 2017 National League Championship Series. In 2020, he helped the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series. In 2022, he received the Roberto Clemente Award for his amazing charity work.
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Early Life and College Baseball
Justin Turner was born in Long Beach, California. His parents are John and Betsy Turner. He also has a younger sister.
Justin went to Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California. There, he was a great shortstop and second baseman. He earned top honors three times.
He then attended California State University, Fullerton. He studied kinesiology, which is the study of body movement. He also played college baseball for the Titans. In 2003, he quickly became the starting second baseman. He was named a freshman All-American. He also made the 2003 College World Series all-tournament team as a shortstop.
In 2004, his team, Cal State Fullerton, won the 2004 College World Series. They beat Texas in a two-game final. In 2005, he played summer baseball for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.
The New York Yankees drafted Turner in 2005, but he did not sign with them. The Cincinnati Reds then drafted him in 2006. He signed with them and received a $50,000 bonus.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting with the Reds and Orioles
Justin Turner began his professional career with the Reds' Rookie League team. He played all four infield positions and even in the outfield. He finished his first season with a .338 batting average. Within two years, he moved up to Double-A Chattanooga.
In December 2008, Turner was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. He was invited to their spring training. He then started the 2009 season in Triple-A Norfolk. He played mostly second and third base. He finished the year with a .300 batting average.
The Orioles called Turner up to the major leagues on September 8, 2009. He made his debut that day. He got his first major league hit at Yankee Stadium. In 2010, he was sent back to Norfolk. He was later taken off the Orioles' roster.
Time with the New York Mets
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On May 25, 2010, the New York Mets picked up Turner. He was sent to their Triple-A team, Buffalo. On June 16, he was called up to the Mets.
In 2011, the Mets called Turner back up. He hit his first major league home run on May 15, 2011. It was a three-run home run. On May 21, he set a Mets rookie record. He got an RBI in his seventh game in a row. Because of his great play, Turner was named the NL Rookie of the Month for May 2011.
In 2012, the Mets started using him as a utility infielder. This means he could play many different infield positions. After the 2013 season, the Mets did not offer him a new contract. He became a free agent. He played 301 games with the Mets over four seasons.
Joining the Los Angeles Dodgers
After leaving the Mets, Justin Turner signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in February 2014. He was invited to spring training. The Dodgers added him to their main roster in March.
In 2014, Turner played 109 games. He was very versatile and filled in when other players were injured. He led the team with a .340 batting average. He hit seven home runs and had 43 RBI.
Becoming a Starter
In 2015, Turner signed a new contract with the Dodgers. He became the main third baseman for most of the season. He hit .294 with a career-high 16 home runs and 60 RBI. In the 2015 National League Division Series, he had 10 hits in 19 tries. This was a .526 average. The Dodgers lost the series. After the season, he had knee surgery.
In 2016, Turner played in 151 games, which was a career high. He also had career bests in home runs (27) and RBI (90). He batted .275.
All-Star and MVP Season
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In December 2016, the Dodgers signed Turner to a four-year contract. In 2017, he started the season batting .379. He later missed some time due to a hamstring injury. On July 6, he won the All-Star Final Vote. This earned him a spot in the 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He received a record 20.8 million votes.
Turner finished the 2017 season with a .322 batting average. He also had 21 home runs and 71 RBI. In the 2017 NLDS, he had six hits in 13 tries. This included a game-winning home run. Turner and Chris Taylor were named co-MVPs of the 2017 National League Championship Series. He batted .333 with two home runs and seven RBI in that series.
In the 2017 World Series, he had only four hits in 25 tries. The Dodgers lost to the Houston Astros. Turner broke a Dodgers record for most RBI in a single postseason.
Later Years with the Dodgers
In 2018, Turner missed time early in the season due to a wrist injury. He also missed time after the All-Star break. But he played very well in August and September. He was named the National League Player of the Month for August. He batted .402 that month. On September 4, 2018, Turner was nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award. This award honors players who show great sportsmanship and help their community. He finished the season with a .312 batting average.
In 2019, Turner hit a career-high three home runs in one game on May 8. On June 14, he hit his 100th career home run. For the season, Turner batted .290 with 27 home runs and 67 RBI.
Winning the World Series
The 2020 baseball season was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Turner played in 42 games for the Dodgers. He batted .307 with four home runs and 23 RBI. His teammates voted him the winner of the Roy Campanella Award. He was the first player to win it three times.
In the 2020 National League Division Series, Turner passed Steve Garvey for the most playoff hits in Dodgers history. He had two hits and two RBI in that series. Turner had seven hits, including a home run, in the 2020 National League Championship Series. This helped him reach his third World Series.
In the 2020 World Series, against the Tampa Bay Rays, Turner had eight hits. This included two home runs. The Dodgers won the championship!
Final Seasons with Dodgers
On February 19, 2021, Turner signed a new contract with the Dodgers. On August 29, 2021, Turner pitched for the first time in a major league game. He threw 10 pitches and got all three outs. He gave up no runs and received a standing ovation. In 2021, Turner played in 151 games. He had a .278 batting average, 27 home runs, and 87 RBI. He later strained his hamstring during the playoffs.
In 2022, Turner played as a third baseman and designated hitter. He appeared in 128 games. He batted .278 with 13 home runs and 81 RBI. In November, the Dodgers decided not to keep him for the 2023 season. He became a free agent.
Boston Red Sox
On January 6, 2023, Turner signed a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. He earned $15 million for the season. He played in 146 games. He hit .276 with 23 home runs and 96 RBI. He mostly played as a designated hitter. On November 3, he chose to leave his contract and became a free agent again.
Toronto Blue Jays
On January 30, 2024, Turner signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was one of the oldest players in the American League that year. Turner played in 91 games for the Blue Jays. He batted .250 with 6 home runs and 31 RBI.
Seattle Mariners
On July 29, 2024, Turner was traded to the Seattle Mariners. He played in 48 games with Seattle. He batted .264 with 5 home runs and 24 RBI.
Chicago Cubs
On February 20, 2025, Turner signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. On July 8, 2025, Turner hit his 200th career home run. He hit it off of Joey Wentz.
Personal Life and Charity Work
Justin Turner married his longtime girlfriend, Kourtney Pogue, in December 2017. Their wedding was in Mexico. Orel Hershiser, a former Dodgers pitcher, led the ceremony. Justin and Kourtney live in Studio City. Their son, Bo Jordan Turner, was born in July 2024.
The Justin Turner Foundation
Justin and Kourtney started the Justin Turner Foundation. This charity helps homeless veterans and children with serious illnesses. It also supports youth baseball groups. The foundation holds a yearly charity golf tournament. It is also an official charity for the LA Marathon. They work with other groups like the Dream Center.
The Los Angeles City Council declared January 22, 2019, "Justin Turner Day." This was to honor his contributions to the community. He also won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2022. This award recognizes players for their great humanitarian actions.
Endorsements and Business
In 2024, Justin Turner was the most endorsed MLB athlete. He had 20 deals with different companies.
In June 2024, Turner became a part-owner and ambassador for Beard Club. His famous red beard led to his nickname "Red." It also inspired his social media name, "Redturn2."
Images for kids
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Turner with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017
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Turner with the 2011 New York Mets
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Turner with the 2016 Los Angeles Dodgers
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Turner before Game 5 of the 2016 National League Division Series
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Turner with the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers
See also
In Spanish: Justin Turner para niños
