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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| Free agent | |||
| 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 2024 season) |
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| Batting average | .285 | ||
| Hits | 1,580 | ||
| Home runs | 198 | ||
| Runs batted in | 814 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Justin Matthew Turner (born November 23, 1984) is an American professional baseball player. He is an infielder and designated hitter. He has played for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), including the Los Angeles Dodgers.
People sometimes call him "Red" because of his beard. Justin played college baseball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans. He was picked in the 2006 MLB draft by the Cincinnati Reds. He first played in the major leagues in 2009 with the Baltimore Orioles.
While with the Dodgers, Justin was chosen as an All-Star in 2017. He also won the Most Valuable Player Award in the 2017 National League Championship Series. In 2020, he helped the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series.
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Early Life & College Baseball
Justin Turner was born in Long Beach, California. His parents are John and Betsy Turner. He also has a younger sister.
He went to Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California. There, he was a great shortstop and second baseman. In his senior year, he hit very well, helping his team win a league title.
Justin then went to California State University, Fullerton. He studied kinesiology and played baseball for the Titans. In 2003, he was named a freshman All-American. He also played in the 2003 College World Series as a shortstop.
The next year, in 2004, his team, Cal State Fullerton, won the 2004 College World Series. In 2005, he played summer baseball for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. The New York Yankees drafted him in 2005, but he chose not to sign with them.
In 2006, the Cincinnati Reds drafted him in the seventh round. He signed with them and began his professional baseball journey.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting with the Reds & Orioles
Justin started his professional career with the Reds' minor league team, the Billings Mustangs. He played many different positions in the infield and even in the outfield. He had a great batting average of .338.
He moved up to Double-A Chattanooga within two years. By 2008, he was hitting .289 there. In December 2008, Justin was traded to the Baltimore Orioles.
He made his first major league appearance with the Orioles on September 8, 2009. He got his first major league hit at Yankee Stadium. In 2010, he played 17 games for the Orioles before moving on.
Time with the New York Mets
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In May 2010, the New York Mets picked up Justin. He was sent to their Triple-A team, the Buffalo. Soon after, he was called up to play for the Mets.
On May 15, 2011, Justin hit his first major league home run against the Houston Astros. It was a three-run home run! He had a fantastic May, setting a Mets rookie record for getting an RBI in seven straight games. Because of his great playing, he was named the NL Rookie of the Month for May 2011.
In 2012, the Mets started using him as a versatile utility infielder. This meant he could play many different infield positions. After the 2013 season, Justin became a free agent. He had played 301 games for the Mets.
Becoming a Dodger Star
After leaving the Mets, Justin signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in February 2014. He quickly showed how good he was. The Dodgers added him to their main team in March.
In 2014, Justin played 109 games. He was very flexible, filling in for injured players. He led the team with an amazing .340 batting average. He also hit seven home runs and had 43 RBI.
2015 Season
In 2015, Justin became the main third baseman for the Dodgers. He had a great year, hitting .294 with a career-high 16 home runs and 60 RBI.
In the 2015 National League Division Series against the Mets, Justin was incredible. He got 10 hits in 19 tries, with six of them being doubles! Even though he played so well, the Dodgers lost the series.
2016 Season
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In 2016, Justin played in 151 games, which was his most ever. He also hit career highs with 27 home runs and 90 RBI. He batted .275. He played well in the first round of the playoffs but struggled a bit in the next series.
2017: All-Star and NLCS MVP
In December 2016, the Dodgers signed Justin to a big four-year contract. In 2017, he started the season hitting an amazing .379! He was later chosen for the 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He received a record 20.8 million votes from fans!
Justin finished the 2017 season with a .322 batting average, 21 home runs, and 71 RBI. In the playoffs, he hit a game-winning home run in Game 2 of the 2017 NLDS. He was named co-MVP of the 2017 National League Championship Series. He hit .333 with two home runs and seven RBI in that series.
The Dodgers made it to the 2017 World Series, but they lost in seven games. Justin set a new Dodgers record for most RBI in a single postseason.
2018 Season
Justin was injured during spring training in 2018, which made him miss the start of the season. He came back in May. He played really well in August and September. He was even named the National League Player of the Month for August!
He finished the 2018 season with a .312 batting average, 14 home runs, and 52 RBI. He continued to play well in the playoffs, but the Dodgers lost the 2018 World Series to the Boston Red Sox.
2019 Season
On May 8, 2019, Justin hit a career-high three home runs in one game against the Atlanta Braves. On June 14, he hit his 100th career home run.
For the whole 2019 season, Justin batted .290 with 27 home runs and 67 RBI.
2020: World Series Champions
The 2020 baseball season was shorter because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Justin played in 42 games for the Dodgers, hitting .307 with four home runs and 23 RBI.
He helped the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. He had eight hits, including two home runs, in the series. During the World Series, Justin had to leave a game due to health protocols. The Dodgers won the championship!
2021: Another All-Star Season
In February 2021, Justin signed a new contract with the Dodgers. On August 29, 2021, Justin even pitched in a game for the first time! He threw 10 pitches and got all three outs without giving up any runs. The crowd gave him a standing ovation!
In 2021, Justin played in 151 games, batting .278 with 27 home runs and 87 RBI. He got injured during the playoffs, which kept him from playing in future games that year.
2022 Season
In 2022, Justin played both third base and designated hitter. He played in 128 games, hitting .278 with 13 home runs and 81 RBI. In November, the Dodgers decided not to keep him for the next season, making him a free agent.
Boston Red Sox
On January 6, 2023, Justin signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox. In 146 games, he hit .276 with 23 home runs and 96 RBI. He played mostly as a designated hitter, but also at first, second, and third base. After the season, he chose to become a free agent again.
Toronto Blue Jays
On January 30, 2024, Justin signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was one of the oldest players in the American League that year.
Seattle Mariners
Justin was traded to the Seattle Mariners on July 29, 2024.
Personal Life & Charity Work
Justin Turner married his longtime girlfriend, Kourtney Pogue, in December 2017. Their wedding was in Mexico. They live in Studio City, Los Angeles. Their son, Bo Jordan Turner, was born in July 2024.
The Justin Turner Foundation
Justin and his wife started the Justin Turner Foundation. This charity helps homeless veterans, children with serious illnesses, and youth baseball groups. The foundation holds a yearly golf tournament and works with other charities like the Dream Center.
The Los Angeles City Council even declared January 22, 2019, "Justin Turner Day" to honor his help in the community. In 2022, he received the Roberto Clemente Award. This award is given to a player who shows great sportsmanship and helps their community.
Endorsements
Justin Turner is a popular athlete for endorsements. In 2024, he had 20 active deals, which was the most for any MLB player! He signed a deal with Beard Club because he takes pride in his beard. His famous red beard is why he's nicknamed "Red" and why his social media name is "Redturn2."
See also
In Spanish: Justin Turner para niños
