Justin Turner Bio
Justin Matthew Turner, nicknamed “RedTurn2,” is an American professional baseball infielder and designated hitter who is a free agent. Born on November 23, 1984, in Long Beach, California, Turner has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, and Chicago Cubs. Over a career that began in 2009, he has been selected to two MLB All-Star Games, won a World Series championship with the Dodgers, earned National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player honors, and received the Roberto Clemente Award in 2022 for his humanitarian work.
Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Justin Matthew Turner was born in Long Beach, California, to John and Betsy Turner, and grew up with one younger sister. He attended Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California, where he earned three-time All-Suburban first-team honors as a shortstop and second baseman. His high school performance set the stage for a college career that would put him on the national baseball map.
After high school, Turner enrolled at California State University, Fullerton, where he majored in kinesiology and played college baseball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans. He earned freshman All-American honors from Baseball America in 2003 after quickly taking over as the starting second baseman, and he was named to the 2003 College World Series all-tournament team as a shortstop. During that series, he was hit in the face by a fastball after going 3-for-3 with a home run, an early demonstration of his resilience. The following year, Cal State Fullerton won the 2004 College World Series with a two-game victory over Texas.
In the summer of 2005, Turner played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, a traditional proving ground for top amateur talent. He had been selected in the 29th round of the 2005 MLB draft by the New York Yankees but did not sign. The next year, the Cincinnati Reds selected him in the seventh round (204th overall) of the 2006 MLB draft, and he signed for a $50,000 bonus.
Justin Turner Career
Early Career (2006–2009)
Turner began his professional career in the Cincinnati Reds organization, reporting to the rookie-level Billings Mustangs, where he played all four infield positions and the outfield. He finished his first professional season with a team-leading .338 batting average and a .921 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. Within two years, he was promoted to Double-A Chattanooga, where he finished the 2008 campaign, at age 23, with a .289 average and a .792 OPS.
On December 9, 2008, during the Winter Meetings, the Reds traded Turner, along with utility player Ryan Freel and infielder Brandon Waring, to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for catcher Ramón Hernández. The Orioles invited him to spring training as a non-roster invitee, then assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk for the 2009 season. Turner played mostly second and third base at Norfolk, finishing the year with a .300 average and a .749 OPS. On September 8, 2009, Baltimore purchased his contract and he made his major league debut that day at Fenway Park, pinch-hitting for Melvin Mora and finishing the game at third base. He collected his first major league hit at Yankee Stadium, a single off Michael Dunn, and finished 3-for-18 across 12 games.
New York Mets Era (2010–2013)
After the Orioles designated him for assignment on May 21, 2010, the New York Mets claimed Turner off waivers and optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo. He was recalled on June 16, 2010, going 1-for-8 in his brief first stint with the Mets. In 2011, after the Mets designated Brad Emaus for assignment, Turner returned to the majors and quickly found his footing, hitting his first major league home run on May 15, 2011, a three-run shot off Aneury Rodriguez of the Houston Astros, capping a five-RBI day.
On May 21, 2011, in a Subway Series game at Yankee Stadium, Turner collected an RBI in his seventh consecutive game, setting a Mets rookie record for most consecutive games with an RBI. He was named the National League Rookie of the Month for May 2011, the first Met ever to win the award. By 2012, the Mets had converted him into an all-around utility infielder, and in 2013 he platooned at shortstop while Ruben Tejada was injured. After the 2013 season, the Mets non-tendered Turner, making him a free agent. In 301 games across four seasons in New York, he hit .265/.326/.370.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2014–2022)
Los Angeles Dodgers bench coach Tim Wallach saw Turner hitting at a Cal State Fullerton alumni game, leading to a minor league contract with the Dodgers on February 5, 2014. His contract was purchased on March 16 and he was added to the major league roster. In 2014, Turner played 109 games due to his versatility and injuries to Hanley Ramírez and Juan Uribe, leading the team with a .340 batting average, seven home runs, and 43 RBI in 288 at-bats. On January 16, 2015, he signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract, became the starting third baseman, and hit .294 with a career-high 16 homers and 60 RBI.
During the 2015 National League Division Series against his former Mets teammates, Turner led the Dodgers with 10 hits in 19 at-bats for a .526 average, including a then-NLDS record six doubles, although the Dodgers lost the series. He signed a one-year, $5.1 million deal in January 2016 and set career highs with 27 home runs and 90 RBI while batting .275 in a career-high 151 games. On December 23, 2016, the Dodgers rewarded him with a four-year, $64 million contract.
Turner opened 2017 batting .379 before a strained right hamstring sidelined him from May 18 through June 9. On July 6, he won the All-Star Final Vote with 20.8 million votes, a Final Vote record, earning a spot in the 2017 MLB All-Star Game. He finished the year at .322/.415 with 21 homers and 71 RBI, ranking third in the NL in batting average and second in on-base percentage. In the 2017 National League Championship Series, Turner and Chris Taylor were named co-MVPs as he batted .333 with two home runs and seven RBI, including a tie-breaking ninth-inning home run in Game 2 against the Chicago Cubs. Although the Dodgers lost the 2017 World Series to the Houston Astros, Turner broke Dusty Baker’s franchise postseason RBI record during the Fall Classic.
In 2018, Turner opened the season on the injured list after being hit by a pitch on his left wrist during spring training. He returned on May 15 and was later voted National League Player of the Month for August after batting .402 with 11 doubles, six home runs, and 20 RBI across 25 games. He finished 2018 at .312 with 14 homers and 52 RBI and hit .333 in the 2018 World Series, which the Dodgers lost to the Boston Red Sox. In 2019, he hit a career-high three home runs and drove in six runs against the Atlanta Braves on May 8, and on June 14, he hit his 100th career home run off Kyle Hendricks. He finished 2019 at .290/.372/.509 with 27 homers and 67 RBI.
The 2020 season was delayed and shortened to 60 games by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Turner tied the Dodgers’ all-time hit-by-pitch record on Opening Day before breaking it in August. In 42 games, he hit .307/.400/.460 with four homers and 23 RBI and was voted a record third-time winner of the Roy Campanella Award. In the 2020 World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Turner went 8-for-25 with two home runs as the Dodgers won the championship. During the eighth inning of Game 6, he was pulled from the game after testing positive for COVID-19, then returned to the field to join the celebratory photo in violation of MLB protocols. He later apologized for his actions.
On February 19, 2021, Turner re-signed with the Dodgers on a two-year, $34 million contract with a $14 million option for a third year. In 2021, he played 151 games with a .278 average, 27 homers, and 87 RBI and made his pitching debut on August 29 against the Colorado Rockies, throwing 10 pitches for three scoreless outs. In 2022, he split time between third base and designated hitter, appearing in 128 games with a .278 average, 13 homers, and 81 RBI. On November 10, 2022, the Dodgers declined his $16 million option, making him a free agent, and he was later named the Roberto Clemente Award winner for 2022.
Boston Red Sox Era (2023)
On January 6, 2023, Justin Turner signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Boston Red Sox with a player option for 2024. In 146 games, he hit .276 with 23 home runs and 96 RBI, appearing mostly at designated hitter with some infield appearances. On November 3, 2023, he opted out of his contract and became a free agent.
Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners (2024)
On January 30, 2024, Justin Turner signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 91 games with Toronto, he batted .250/.350/.372 with six home runs and 31 RBI and was the fifth-oldest player in the American League. On July 29, 2024, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners for minor leaguer RJ Schreck. In 48 games with Seattle, he batted .264/.363/.403 with five home runs and 24 RBI. Turner was the most endorsed MLB athlete in 2024 with 20 deals, ahead of Julio Rodríguez and Corbin Carroll, and in June 2024 he became a part-owner and ambassador for Beard Club.
Chicago Cubs Era (2025)
On February 20, 2025, Justin Turner signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. On July 8, 2025, he hit his 200th career home run off Joey Wentz, and on August 3, 2025, he hit his first career walk-off home run off Keegan Akin in a 5-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles. On November 6, 2025, the Cubs declined their mutual option with Turner for 2026, returning him to free agency.
Driving Style and Strengths
Turner’s game is built on plate discipline, contact hitting, and positional versatility, allowing him to play second base, third base, and shortstop before settling in as a regular at third base and designated hitter. He led the Dodgers in batting average in his first full season and routinely ranked among the National League leaders in on-base percentage. His slower sprint speed has been a frequent talking point in advanced metrics, but his ability to deliver in the clutch, including the 2017 NLCS tie-breaking home run, has defined his value.
Notable Events and Milestones
Turner’s signature moment came in the 2020 World Series, where he won a championship with the Dodgers despite being pulled from Game 6 following a positive COVID-19 test. He broke Dusty Baker’s Dodgers postseason RBI record, set a Final Vote record with 20.8 million All-Star votes in 2017, became a three-time winner of the Roy Campanella Award, and was honored with the Roberto Clemente Award in 2022. The Los Angeles City Council declared January 22, 2019, “Justin Turner Day” in recognition of his civic contributions.
Justin Turner Career Wins
Justin Turner’s most celebrated victory is the 2020 World Series championship with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he went 8-for-25 with two home runs across the series. He also earned National League Championship Series co-Most Valuable Player honors in 2017, hitting .333 with two home runs and seven RBI against the Chicago Cubs. Across the regular season and postseason, he has accumulated more than 200 career home runs, including his 200th on July 8, 2025, off the Atlanta Braves’ Joey Wentz.
Major League Highlights
Turner has been selected to two MLB All-Star Games, in 2017 and 2021, and won the All-Star Final Vote in 2017 with a record 20.8 million votes. With the Dodgers, he set a franchise record for most postseason hits and earned three Roy Campanella Awards, becoming the first three-time winner in franchise history. His 2014 season with the Dodgers, in which he led the team with a .340 batting average, marked the turning point of his career.
Other Wins and Performances
Turner won a College World Series title with Cal State Fullerton in 2004, was named to the 2003 College World Series all-tournament team, and earned freshman All-American honors from Baseball America that same year. He was a 2011 National League Rookie of the Month and has been a steady middle-of-the-order presence at every major stop in his career.
Justin Turner Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Justin Matthew Turner was born to John and Betsy Turner and grew up in Long Beach, California, with one younger sister. He attended Mayfair High School in nearby Lakewood, California, before going on to play college baseball at California State University, Fullerton. His parents supported his development as a young athlete, and his collegiate path produced the foundation for a long professional career.
Personal Life
Turner married his longtime girlfriend, Kourtney Pogue, in December 2017 at a beachfront resort in Mexico, with former Dodger pitcher and broadcaster Orel Hershiser officiating. The couple resides in Studio City, California, and their son, Bo Jordan Turner, was born in July 2024. Turner and his wife founded the Justin Turner Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that supports homeless veterans, children battling life-altering illnesses, and youth baseball organizations, and he has been recognized with the Roberto Clemente Award and a “Justin Turner Day” in Los Angeles for his humanitarian work.
2025 Season Performance
Justin Turner’s 2025 season with the Chicago Cubs represented another productive year for the veteran infielder and designated hitter. On July 8, 2025, he hit his 200th career home run, a milestone that placed him among a small group of players to reach the mark while staying active. Less than a month later, on August 3, 2025, he hit his first career walk-off home run, a decisive blow off Keegan Akin that gave the Cubs a 5-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
On November 6, 2025, the Cubs declined their mutual option with Turner for the 2026 season, returning him to free agency after one year on his one-year, $6 million contract. The decision opened the door for Turner to weigh his next move as he approaches his 41st birthday in November. Despite his age, his combination of plate discipline, clubhouse leadership, and postseason experience continues to draw interest from contenders.
Looking ahead, Turner’s veteran presence, on-base skills, and championship résumé make him an attractive target for teams seeking a right-handed bat and a respected leader. His future role could mirror his 2025 split between designated hitter and infield appearances, with potential flexibility to mentor younger hitters and contribute in the late innings of a pennant race. Whatever direction his career takes, Turner’s legacy as a 2020 World Series champion, two-time All-Star, 2017 NLCS co-MVP, and Roberto Clemente Award winner is already secure.