Justin Turner returned to Dodger Stadium on Monday night for the first time since leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022, after spending nine years with the team and winning a World Series as their determined 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.” Now 39 years old, Turner is playing first base for the Seattle Mariners, who were starting a three-game series against the NL West leaders.
Turner received a second standing ovation before his first at-bat in the second inning. He grounded out to third base—his old position with the Dodgers—to end the inning.
His wife, Kourtney, and their red-haired son Bo, born on July 4, joined him behind home plate for a pregame ceremony. They watched a video of his career highlights with the Dodgers, and the team gave Turner a $10,000 check for his foundation and three framed photos of him in action.
With Turner’s walk-up music “Turn Down for What” playing, 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 well-known for their civic contributions in Los Angeles. They used their foundation to support homeless veterans, sick children, and youth baseball organizations.
From the dugout, Turner would always shake hands with the military hero of the game, introduced between innings, and give them an autographed baseball.
During his time in LA, Dodgers fans wore fake red beards to honor 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 let go by the New York Mets and became a free agent. Just before the next spring training, he found a new team in Los Angeles.
Initially, Turner failed his physical with the Dodgers, so his guaranteed contract was changed to an invitation to spring training as a non-roster invitee. Turner, who is from Long Beach, walked into the clubhouse on 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 just before the club left for Australia to start the 2014 season against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Turner became a first-time All-Star in 2017. He had six hits in 13 at-bats in the National League Division Series, including a game-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 RBIs. The Dodgers lost the World Series to the Houston Astros, with Turner hitting just .160.
In 2020, the Dodgers won the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, with Turner hitting two home runs. He was taken out late in Game 6 after testing positive for COVID-19 but returned to take celebratory photos with his teammates, which broke MLB rules. Turner later apologized.
After the 2022 season, the Dodgers decided not to pick up his $16 million option for the next 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 credits Turner and Gonzalez with supporting him in front of the team, which built trust.
“For that I’ll always be indebted to those two guys in particular,” he said.
Turner is now focused on helping the Mariners make a postseason run, but when his playing career ends, he would consider working for the Dodgers.
“Obviously if that opportunity presented itself it would be something that I really, really took into consideration,” he said. Roberts supported 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.”
