The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t have one player named when American League and National League starters were named for the 2017 All-Star Game, but the club was represented by four All-Stars. Not included, however, were notable snubs Justin Turner and Alex Wood.
That changed in the days after the initial rosters were announced, as Turner won the Final Vote and Wood was named as a replacement for Clayton Kershaw. The All-Star selections are a career first for Cody Bellinger, Turner and Wood.
Upon learning he won the Final Vote with a record 20.8 million votes, Turner expressed his gratitude for the groundswell of support. The 32-year-old was reflective about his accomplishment during All-Star Game media availability, via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com:
“I would like to sit here and say no, it doesn’t surprise me,” Turner said. “But I’ve gone from being a utility guy in New York and getting non-tendered by them, and let go, not knowing what was going to happen. To say that I knew one day I was going to be an All-Star, it would probably be a lie. It’s a pretty special feeling to be sitting here today.”
The Dodgers signed Turner to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training in 2014. He earned a spot on the roster as a utility man and has developed into their everyday third baseman and MVP candidate.
He went into the All-Star break this year batting .377/.473/.583 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 37 RBI in 65 games. Turner finished the first half of the season nine plate appearances shy of qualifying for the batting title.
Over parts of three seasons with the Dodgers, Turner is hitting .301/.377/.510 with 77 doubles, four triples, 53 home runs and 187 RBI. He slugged a career-high 27 home runs in 151 games last season.
Turner’s offensive production draws plenty of deserved attention, but he’s continued to play Gold-Glove caliber defense and owns a 4.1 WAR (FanGraphs) that is tied with Anthony Rendon of the Washington Nationals for best among third basemen.
