Turner’s veteran presence key for Blue Jays
TORONTO’S NEWLY SIGNED, 39-YEAR-OLD DH IS THE TALK OF THE CLUBHOUSE
As a World Series champion, veteran bat and voice for almost a decade on those deep and accomplished Los Angeles Dodgers teams, Justin Turner came to his latest MLB stop with a well-earned reputation.
And with those traits and a personality to complement them, it wasn’t long before the red-bearded player would have an influence on the Toronto Blue Jays, who signed him to a one-year, Us$13-million contract.
Almost from the start of camp here, Turner has been a hit — and we mean that literally.
He was a constant presence in the batting cages, where he could be found hitting, watching others hit and talking hitting with anyone who had a thought on the topic.
It has been precisely the type of presence Jays GM Ross Atkins was banking on.
“I think it’s the same for everyone,” Turner said, serving up a no-big-deal response to his influence on a team looking for improved performance at the plate.
“You spend time around each other, ask questions, talk about different thoughts, different mentalities, different approaches. That’s something that isn’t just a spring training thing. It’s something that goes on all year long.
“I love being around the cage and talking about hitting and talking about different thoughts.”
Even if that reputation for being a hitter’s hitter preceded him, Turner was savvy enough not to force the issue. The conversations developed organically and before long he was a trusted voice in the clubhouse and at the cage.
“I don’t like to go to guys and approach them, I just like to be around and if they have questions be available and give my opinion,” Turner said.
“It’s not always right, but hitting is a very intricate thing and sometimes you just have to change your thoughts and feels to get yourself in the right position.”
As the spring has developed, Turner has gotten deep into hitting conversations with George Springer, who he often drove with to Grapefruit League games away from Dunedin, and with just about anyone else who has a bat in their hand and a willingness to discuss the nuances of the craft.
“We have similar thoughts but different at the same time,” shortstop Bo Bichette said. “He speaks my language for the most part and I’ve asked his opinion on a few things. He’s been great. He’s a calm presence and a professional who goes about it the right way.”
That presence of Turner in manager John Schneider’s order is certainly an intriguing one for a team saddled with a consensus that it didn’t do much to improve its ability to score runs in the off-season.
Signing a 39-year-old veteran — as accomplished as Turner is — to primarily serve as a DH wasn’t exactly the ticket many fans were expecting.
But Turner will begin the 2024 season on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays down the road at Tropicana Field hitting cleanup and looking to be a key bat at a critical spot.
That well-earned reputation also brings expectations, something Turner clearly seems up for.
“I don’t really care where I hit in the lineup,” Turner said. “As long as they’re happy, I’m good. George has been an on-base machine and Bo and Vladdy (Guerrero) are just so talented and can do so many great things.
“There’s always a lot of traffic out there. It’s more fun taking at bats when you have those guys in scoring position.”
In a perfect world, Turner brings leadership in two forms — as a potent and productive presence at a key spot in the lineup and as a leader in the clubhouse and dugout. And so far he’s been a strong presence in the latter area.
“Credit to Justin Turner — he sits in the cage and watches guys and he talks,” said Springer, who no doubt feels some of the pressure has been removed from him.
“Guys are gravitating towards him and watching and seeing what he thinks and what works for him.”