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Ex-Dodger Justin Turner extends career, bonds with son as Tijuana Toro
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- Ex-Dodger Justin Turner extends career, bonds with son as Tijuana Toro
This spring, 30 MLB teams let World Series champion Justin Turner know his pro career is over.
The 41-year-old sought a minor-league contract with hopes of starting the regular season in Triple-A. Every big-league organization passed.
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But Turner, a 17-year major leaguer, knew he wasn't done. That's why the popular Los Angeles Dodgers star plies his trade with the Tijuana Toros these days.
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Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Shaikin joined Turner to find out what inspired him to continue his career in the Mexican League.
Lifestyle works for Turner
A native of Southern California, Turner picked the Tijuana Toros over potential opportunities in Japan or South Korea. His new gig allows him to live in San Diego and commute to the stadium.
It also allows him to introduce his son Bo, who turns 2 in July, to the game.
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"I got a late start in parenthood," Turner told Shaikin. "I've been around a lot of guys who had the opportunity to have their kids grow up in a clubhouse, and I've always thought that was really cool.
"He wakes up in the morning, and the first thing he says is 'baseball.' … I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Win-win situation
Turner's presence works for the Toros as well. Tijuana is close enough to Los Angeles that Dodgers fans can cheer for a player who spent nine years in the organization and helped it win the 2020 World Series.
Toros president Omar Canizales told Shaikin ticket sales are up 30 percent. Meanwhile, the team began selling jerseys with players' names on the back this season, and 98 percent of the sales are Turner jerseys.
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"We haven't seen anything like this before," Canizales said through an interpreter. "There's nothing to compare it to the impact Justin has made in such little time."
The on-field results aren't bad, either. Tijuana leads the Norte Division with a 20-7 record. Turner is doing his part, hitting .297 with a .918 OPS with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 22 games.
During his 17-year MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles , New York Mets , Dodgers, Boston Red Sox , Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs , Turner hit .283 with an .814 OPS. He collected 201 career home runs and 803 RBIs.
