Background and career
Justin Matthew Turner (born November 23, 1984) is an American professional baseball infielder and designated hitter for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. He has previously 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. Turner played college baseball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2006 MLB draft by the Cincinnati Reds and made his major league debut in 2009 with Baltimore. With the Dodgers, Turner was an All-Star in 2017 and 2021 and won the 2017 National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award. He won the 2020 World Series with the Dodgers. He won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2022 for his philanthropic work.
Justin Turner was born in Long Beach, California, to John and Betsy Turner. He has one younger sister. Turner attended Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California, earning three-time All-Suburban first-team honors as a shortstop and second baseman. He attended California State University, Fullerton, where he majored in kinesiology and played college baseball for the Titans. He earned freshman All-American honors from Baseball America in 2003 after quickly taking over as the starting second baseman. He was named to the 2003 College World Series all-tournament team as a shortstop. During the CWS, Turner was hit in the face by a fastball after going 3-for-3 including a home run. The next year, Cal State Fullerton won a two-game final over Texas in the 2004 College World Series. In 2005, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. Turner was selected in the 29th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Yankees, although he did not sign. He was selected in the seventh round (204th overall) of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft by the Cincinnati Reds, receiving a $50,000 bonus upon signing with the organization.
Turner reported to the Reds' Rookie League affiliate, the Billings Mustangs, where he saw time at all four infield positions and in the outfield, finishing the season with a team-leading .338 batting average and a .921 OPS. He was promoted to Double-A Chattanooga within two years, finishing the 2008 season, at age 23, with a .289 average and a .792 OPS at that level.
On December 9, 2008, during the Winter Meetings, Turner was traded, along with utility player Ryan Freel and infielder Brandon Waring to the Baltimore Orioles, in return for catcher Ramón Hernández. He was invited to spring training as a non-roster invitee; upon its conclusion, he was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk for the 2009 season. Playing mostly second and third base, he finished the year with a .300 average and a .749 OPS. The Orioles purchased Turner's contract on September 8, 2009. He made his major league debut that day at Fenway Park, pinch hitting for Melvin Mora and finishing the game at third base. Turner got his first major league hit at Yankee Stadium, a single to center field off Michael Dunn. He finished the season batting 3-for-18, having appeared in 12 games, with three starts at third base. Turner was invited to spring training as a member of the 40-man roster but was demoted to Norfolk at the end of camp. However, on April 12, 2010, the Orioles placed starting second baseman Brian Roberts on the 15-day injured list and recalled Turner from Norfolk. On May 21, 2010, Turner was designated for assignment by the Baltimore Orioles. In 17 games with the Orioles, he hit .111 (three hits in 27 at-bats).
On May 25, 2010, Turner was claimed off waivers from the Orioles by the New York Mets and optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. On June 16, Turner was called up to the Mets, with Nick Evans being sent down to Buffalo. He had one hit in eight at bats with the Mets. After designating Brad Emaus for assignment on April 19, 2011, the Mets called Turner back up. He hit his first major league home run against the Houston Astros on May 15, 2011, off Aneury Rodriguez. A three-run home run, it capped off a five-RBI day for Turner. On May 21, 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. With this record and other impressive stats, Turner was named the NL Rookie of the Month for May 2011. He was the first Met to win the award since its creation in 2001. In 2012, the Mets converted him to an all-around utility infielder but on May 6, 2012, when shortstop Ruben Tejada went on the injured list, Turner began platooning at shortstop with Jordany Valdespin until Tejada returned. After the 2013 season, Turner was non-tendered by the Mets, making him a free agent. In 301 games with the Mets over four seasons, he hit .265/.326/370.
Following his release from the Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers bench coach Tim Wallach saw Turner hitting at a Cal State Fullerton alumni game. Turner signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers on February 5, 2014, with an invitation to spring training. His contract was purchased by the Dodgers on March 16 and he was added to the Major League roster.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
