Justin Turner’s Bio
Justin Turner’s Bio:
I grew up in Lakewood, California and played my youth ball in the Patrick Henry Boys league. I played Pony Baseball at Heartwell Pony.
TRAVEL BALL:
I played travel ball for a few teams. I started out playing for Lakewood Youth Baseball. I played for the Colton Nighthawks. I played in the Super Series for Team California in Oklahoma. I played with the OC Dawgs in the Super Series in Georgia.
MICKEY MANTLE:
I played for the OC Cardinals in 2000. We won the California State Championship and Western Regional Championship and advanced to the MM World Series in McKinney, Texas. We finished 2nd, losing to Tennessee 1-0. I was named to the All Tourney team and was the recipient of the MM Big Stick award for being the best hitter in the tournament
CONNIE MACK:
I played for the Long Beach Cardinals in 2002. We won the California State Championship and Western Regional Championship and advanced to the CM World Series in Farmington, New Mexico. We beat a very good team from Louisiana 2-1 to capture the 2002 Connie Mack National Championship. I was named to the All Tourney team and was the recipient of the Gold Glove award for outstanding defensive play.
Connie Mack World Series
MAYFAIR H.S.:
Was a three-time first-team All-Suburban League player at Mayfair H.S. in Lakewood, Calif., where I played shortstop and second base • Capped my career by claiming league MVP honors my senior year, when I hit .450 and .514 in league play to help Mayfair to the league title • Hit home runs in three consecutive at-bats my senior year • Batted .392 as a junior and .488 his sophomore season • Named to the honor roll all four years.
CAL STATE FULLERTON:
TITANS `03: Earned freshman All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America (first team) and was also a second-team All-Big West Conference pick • Won the starting second base position as a freshmen to start the season and was a fixture the rest of the way • Typified the “Titan way”, leading the team in sac hits (12) and walks (31), with few strike outs (less than once every 10 at bats) • Ninth in the Big West in on-base percentage (.427), 10th in hits (73), and tied for fifth in steals (13) • Named to the Fullerton Regional all-tournament team after going 4-for-11 with three RBI • In the Super Regional clincher vs. Arizona State, he tripled in the first run in the first inning and the Titans never looked back • Named to the College World Series all-tournament team after going 5-for-12 with four RBI • Had his best game of the CWS in a key win over Stanford on Feb. 15, when he went 3-for-3 with three RBI and hit his first career homer, a two-run shot off freshman All-American Mark Romanczyk • Was knocked out of the Titans’ final game when he was hit in the face by a pitch from Matt Manship • Had just five errors (and just one fielding error) in 47 starts at second base and 14 at shortstop • Hit safely in 17 of his last 20 games • Had an 11-game hitting streak from Mar. 21 through Apr. 8, which raised his average from .289 to .333 • Baseball America named him the best freshman second baseman in the nation through the mid season point • Struck out just once in his first 73 at bats • Good pressure hitter (.395 average with runners on base and two outs, and .329 hitter vs. ranked teams) • Had a two-run single in the Titans’ eight-run ninth-inning rally vs. Nevada on Feb. 21 • Had two hits in his collegiate debut, including a single in his first at-bat.
TITANS `04: Played in 63 of the Titans’ 69 contests • Had a .986 fielding percentage while leading the team in assists (161) and turning double plays (30), trailing only the catcher and first baseman in chances (289) • Had a season-high eight assists from second base vs. USC on Mar. 31 • Led the team in bruises in 2004, getting hit by a pitch 15 times • Collected 23 multiple-hit games, four of them with a season-high three hits (Mar. 12 vs. Minnesota, Apr. 13 vs. LMU, and back-to-back games vs. UCI, May 15 and 16) • Had an eight-game hitting streak from Mar. 31 to Apr. 13, when he batted .538 (14-for-26) with nine walks and four runs scored • Also had a seven-game hitting streak where he collected 13 hits in 36 at bats (.361) from May 15 – June 5 • Had a four-RBI game on Feb. 15 in the 12-10 victory over Arizona • Was named to the All-Big West Conference second team. Played in the College World Series for the 2nd straight year and won the 2004 National Championship and earned a trip to the White House with President Bush. That’s me holding the bat.
White House with President Bush
TITANS `05: Had another fabulous season, both at the plate as the Fullerton No. 2 hitter and with the glove at second base, in 62 games for the Titans, hitting .324 and amassing a .992 fielding percentage • His fielding percentage was the best by any middle infielder in Titan history • Missed two games at Cal State Northridge (Apr. 8 and 9) due to an ankle turn, returning for the series finale • Was among the top ten in multiple offensive categories in the Big West Conference including: plate appearances (287, 2nd), hits (79, 3rd), at bats (244, 3rd), sacrifice bunts (11, 3rd), runs scored (54, 4th), doubles (17, 4th), hit by pitch (12, 4th), stolen bases (12, 9th), fielding percentage (.992, 9th), and total bases (109, 10th) • Was second on the team in multi-hit games, knocking two or more hits on 25 occasions • Collected a career-high four hits on two occasions, a 4-for-4, 3 RBI performance against UC Santa Barbara on May 1 and a 4-for-5 game against San Diego on May 17 • Had a “Ruthian” game in Las Vegas blasting a pair of home runs (his second and third career shots), finishing the day 3-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored • Was third on the team in multiple-RBI games finishing with 12 • Posted 3 RBI on three occasions: May 17, Mar. 19, and May 1 • Had a 15-game hitting streak (second-longest on the team), from Feb. 26 to Mar. 25. He hit .444 over that time, going 28-for-63 with 16 RBI • Made the College Baseball Foundation’s National Honor Roll on May 24 after going 11-for-17 (.647) over a four-game span against San Diego and Long Beach State • Garnered a pair of post-season awards, being named to the All-Big West’s and Rawlings/ABCA Western Region’s second teams • Was a two-time Big West Player of the Week on Mar. 23 and May 23 • Was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 29th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.
2004 College World Series
TITANS ’06. Saved his best season as a Titan for last. Led the Titans with a .355 avg. and 102 hits in 65 games. • Helped lead the Titans to the CWS for the 3rd time in 4 years. Was among the top ten in multiple offensive categories in the Big West Conference including: plate appearances (320, 1st), hits (102, 1st), at bats (287, 1st), batting avg. (.355, 2nd), runs scored (63, 2nd), RBI’s (43, 5th), doubles (19, 2nd), triples (4, 3rd), stolen bases (20, 4th), total bases (141, 1st) and assists (177, 3rd) • Was first on the team in multi-hit games, knocking two or more hits on 33 occasions • Had a 15-game hitting streak (second-longest on the team). • Left his mark in the Titan all-time record book in multiple categories. Games (253, 2nd), at-bats (1008, 2nd), runs (202, 4th), hits (331, 2nd), RBI’s (156, 10th), doubles (61, 4th), total bases (430, 7th), hit by pitch, (36, 4th), Sac bunts, (38, 2nd), assists (656, 2nd), Fielding pct middle infielder (.985, 1st). • Finished in the top ten of multiple categories for a career in the Big West Conference. Games (253, 1st), at-bats (1008, 1st), hits (331, 1st), runs (202, 8th), and doubles (61, 5th) • Was named Co-Big West Player of the Year with Evan Longoria (Long Beach St). • Voted the CSUF Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year and Team Captain Award. • Named 1st team All-Conference 2B• ABCA 1st team All-American, Collegiate Baseball 2nd team All-American, Baseball America 2nd team All-American, Rivals 2nd team All-American • ABCA/ Rawlings All Western Region Team (1st team) • Rawlings Defensive POY team. • Named to the College World Series All-Tourney team (2nd base). Drafted in the 7th round by the Cincinnati Reds.
2005 Cape Cod League
In 2005 I played in Cape Cod for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
and Coach Pickler. I hit .260 with 3 homers and 20 RBI’s.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER:
2006 Billing Mustangs
Spent entire season with Rookie-level Billings, where he placed fourth in the Pioneer League in both average (.338) and runs scored (53)…hit six home runs, drove in 41 runs, and stole 12 bases…had an on-base percentage of .411, and a slugging percentage of .511…hit safely in 13 of his first 14 games of the season…hit safely in 17 straight games, from August 5 through August 22…hit .370 at home…homered twice against Missoula on Aug. 13…went 4-for-4 against Orem on Aug. 17. Was named Pioneer league Player of the Week on 8-13. Was named to the Pioneer league All Star team and the Baseball America Rookie All Star team.
2007 Dayton Dragon(Low A) and Sarasota Reds(High A)
Batted a combined .307 with 10 HR, 59 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 123 games with Class A Dayton and Class A Advanced Sarasota. … Spent all but six games at Dayton, where he ranked among the Midwest League leaders in hits (2nd, 145) and batting (3rd, .311). … Finished fourth among all Reds Minor Leaguers with a .307 batting average. … Ripped an RBI single in the bottom of the 15th inning on May 7 to beat Kane County. … Hit .358 in May (39-for-109, 20R, 29G). … As the East Division’s starting second baseman, hit an RBI double and scored a run in theMidwest League All-Star Game. … Had a 10-game hitting streak from Aug. 8-21 (16-for-41, .390). … Three times collected four hits in a game (May 9 vs. Peoria, July 8 at South Bend, Aug. 16 at Great Lakes). … Promoted to Sarasota on Aug. 29. … Including Dayton and Sarasota totals, batted .344 in August (32-for-93, 24G). … Named to the Midwest League mid season and posteason All-Star Team.
2008 Sarasota Reds (High A)Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)
Began the season with Class A Advanced Sarasota on April 3 and collected at least one hit in 19 of his first 20 games… four hits on 04/14/2008 against Lakeland… hit .316 with the Reds in 33 games… promoted to Double-A Chattanooga on 5/15… went 5-for-5 with a HR, three RBIs on 07/02 against West Tenn… hit .289 in 78 games with Lookouts… traded on Dec. 10, 2008 along with Brandon Waring and Ryan Freel to Baltimore for Ramon Hernandez… “I was kind of surprised at first,” Turner told MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo. “You never really know when that kind of stuff is going to happen. I’m looking forward to the opportunity and the change of scenery and hopefully good things will come of it.”
2009 Norfolk Tides (AAA) and Baltimore Orioles
Started the year in Norfolk. Batted .300 for the Tides with 54 runs scored and 43 RBI’s. Had 116 hits in 108 games with the Tides.
Was called up to the big leagues in September where I met the team in Boston.
Was 0-2 vs Clay Buchholz in 1st professional game. http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6545825
Justin had his 1st big league hit in in New York on 9-11-2009 off lefty Mike Dunn. http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6595129
Derek Jeter broke Lou Gehrig’s Yankee record for most hits in a Yankee uniform. http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6592063
Had 1st RBI off Yankee’s CC Sabathia. Scored 1st run compliments of Johnny Damon.http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6619615
2010 Norfolk Tides (AAA), Buffalo Bisons (AAA), Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets
Justin began the season with Norfolk before getting called up to the Orioles.
Justin was sent back to Norfolk on 4-24 2010.
Justin was DFA’d by the Orioles and picked up by the New York Mets.
Mets bring up infielder Turner
SAN FRANCISCO — Rather than play their second straight game without a backup middle infielder, the Mets recalled Justin Turner from Triple-A Buffalo prior to Friday’s game, optioning Nick Evans to Double-A Binghamton.
Turner, 25, hit .297 with three homers and 26 runs scored for Buffalo this season, splitting time between second base and shortstop. The Mets claimed him off waivers from the Orioles on May 25.
Turner appeared in five games earlier this season with the O’s, going 0-for-9.
Because Jose Reyes was unavailable Friday, the Mets needed an emergency middle infielder in the event that either Ruben Tejada or Alex Cora suffered an injury. Without Turner, the Mets would have been forced to shift David Wright over to shortstop, inserting Evans at third base.
Evans, summoned from Binghamton last weekend to give the Mets a right-handed option off the bench, was hitless in two pinch-hit at-bats.
December 14, 2009 at 8:44 PM
I played on the Angels Elite team with Justin Turner, and Scott Moore coming into our senior year of highschool. Our team consisted of a number of talented highschool players. I split time with Justin at second base and he is my inpiration for making it to the big leagues.
March 21, 2010 at 1:13 PM
I was wondering if you think Bryce Harper will go to the Nationals as the 2010’s 1st pick? Lori from Bryce Harper Baseball Player
April 20, 2010 at 11:21 AM
Go Red………….
June 14, 2010 at 8:58 AM
i gave you your home run ball back!
June 19, 2010 at 6:15 PM
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September 6, 2010 at 12:33 PM
After catching a homer off Justins bat in July at Frontier Field Rochester NY. i was happy to see him called up to Mets unfortunately sent down again to Bisons Today Justin went 6 for 6 hit for the cycle and thrilled the fans in my little box i told my daughter that he would hit a homer and guess what? Good Luck going forward
May 26, 2011 at 5:03 AM
This is for Justin, I came across your name while searching for my family geneology of my decendants who happen to be Justin Turner as well. Wondered if you have any roots to New York or New England, our Justin is my great great grandfather and he was born 1830, his father was also Justin Turner born around 1800 they lived predominantly in Brooklyn NY but originally the elder came from either Massachuesetts or New England, if you have any connections let me know, I am trying to gather more information as much as possible and came across you name, didn’t know you played baseball and when I saw your red hair I was intrigued, my great grandfather was alfred turner and I do believe he had red hair and he also came from Brooklyn NY, this turner line also leads to Hingerty name, Justin married Hannah Hingerty in Virginia in 1855, just wanted to see…thanks again for your time….Alison Perry
July 11, 2011 at 8:56 AM
Congratulations on making it to the show. I remember you from when you were like 10/12 years old, I use to umpire your little league games in Lakewood. You could tell since back then your were destined to make it you were always a step or two ahead of the game. Quick question what everhappen to the kid that played shortstop with you he was another good ball palyer
August 15, 2011 at 3:55 PM
Justin..It was so cool watching you play in Arizona last weekend! I like the hit you had way out in the outfield! Thank you for the bat! and thank you for siging the balls! You are awesome! I can’t wait to watch you play again when you come back to Arizona or maybe I can watch you play the Dodgers too. Hopefully we can have a peanut war at Thanksgiving and if we do I want to be on your team.
From your youngest biggest fan, Camden Robertson
February 28, 2012 at 12:20 PM
wow! glad to see you made it like they say “to the big leagues” … your dad must be so very proud of you. i remember you when you played for patrick henry and then for hartwell. i don’t remember if you and my son ever played on the same team (his name is gilbert bonilla). i watched you play in the college world series … and said to myself that’s johnny turner’s son. i ‘m still a big baseball fan and look foward to watching you play this season with the mets,but will root for my texas rangers … take care