LOS ANGELES (AP) — Justin Turner returned to Dodger Stadium on Monday night for the first time since leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022 after a nine-year run that included a World Series championship as their gritty third baseman.
“It was one of the best things that ever happened to my career, getting a chance to put on this uniform that so many great players have worn throughout the years and be on some teams that have done some historic things,” Turner said before the game. “It’s really something that I feel honored to be a part of.”
He’s now 39 years old and playing first base for the Seattle Mariners, who opened a three-game series against the NL West leaders.
His wife, Kourtney, and red-haired son Bo, born on July 4, joined him behind home plate for a pregame ceremony. They watched video of his career highlights as a Dodger before the team presented Turner with a $10,000 check for his foundation as well as three framed photos of him in action.
With Turner’s walk-up music “Turn Down for What” blaring, he shared hugs with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Joe Kelly, among others.
“What’s up, LA?” Turner said as the crowd stood and applauded. “I just want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you guys so much for nine of the most incredible years of my life. You guys made this one of the most special times and I can’t say thank you enough.”
Turner and his wife, married in 2017 by former Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser, were high-profile civic contributors in Los Angeles, using their foundation to help homeless veterans, sick children and youth baseball organizations.
From the dugout, Turner would always shake hands with the military hero of the game who was introduced between innings and hand the person an autographed baseball.
During his time in LA, Dodgers fans donned fake red beards in tribute to Turner.
“In my nine years here I don’t think there’s been a bigger fan favorite,” Roberts said. “Fans just really identified with him.”
After the 2013 season, Turner was non-tendered by the New York Mets and became a free agent. Shortly before spring training the next year, he found a new home in Los Angeles.
He initially failed his physical with the Dodgers and his guaranteed contract turned into an invitation to spring training as a non-roster invitee. Turner, a Long Beach native, walked into the clubhouse his first day and saw Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Kenley Jansen, Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramírez.
“It was kind of a pinch-me moment, like do I belong in this room with all these people?” he recalled.
Turner made the team shortly before the club left for Australia to open the 2014 season Down Under against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Turner became a first-time All-Star in 2017, when he had six hits in 13 at-bats in the National League Division Series, including a winning home run in the ninth inning of Game 2 against the Chicago Cubs. Turner and Chris Taylor were co-MVPs of the NL Championship Series. Turner batted .333 with two homers and seven RBI.
The Dodgers went on to lose the World Series to the Houston Astros, with Turner batting just .160.
In 2020, the Dodgers won the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, with Turner blasting two home runs. He was pulled late in Game 6 because he had tested positive for COVID-19 but returned to the field to take celebratory photos with his teammates in violation of MLB rules. Turner later apologized.
After the 2022 season, the Dodgers declined his $16 million option for the upcoming season, making him a free agent. Turner played for Boston in 2023. Earlier this year, he signed with Toronto and was traded to Seattle last month.
“In my emotional side, I wish he was a Dodger forever,” Roberts said. “That’s just not the way sports works, but he’s always a Dodger to me and we’re going to be friends forever.”
Roberts became a first-time manager after the 2014 season and he credits Turner and Gonzalez with supporting him in front of the rest of the team, which engendered trust.
“For that I’ll always be indebted to those two guys in particular,” he said.
Turner is focused on helping the Mariners make a postseason run, but when his playing days are over he wouldn’t mind working for the Dodgers.
“Obviously if that opportunity presented itself it would be something that I really, really took into consideration,” he said.
Roberts endorsed Turner as a future big league manager.
“He’s probably the smartest player I’ve ever had, understanding all the facets of the game on the field, off the field, responsibility as a professional athlete,” he said. “Being a field manager is something that’s on his radar. He and the organization have a huge respect and admiration. It seems like a no-brainer for me.”
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