Sports

Dodgers’ Third Baseman Justin Turner Is the New Mr. October

He has said that its the most fun time to play baseball.

Justin Turner

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 24: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run home run during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros in game one of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

By Rebecca Gibian

Justin Turner’s playoff home run Tuesday night was actually kind of lucky, according to The Ringer. The pitch was over the plate but “not a complete mistake” and the contract was solid “but not optimally square.” Statcast estimates that the hit would have resulted in a home run only 13 percent of the time.

But it was a homer. The 103 degree Los Angeles heat might have had something to do with it. The ball cleared the fence and landed between the narrow space between the wall and the first row of stands.

The Ringer writes that this game-winning homer is just another paragraph in Turner’s already impressive career. Tuner ranks third in OPS of the more than 300 batters who have amassed at least 100 playoff plate appearances, The Ringer reports. This means he is only behind Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

The Ringer writes that Turner has “essentially hit like the purest hitter who ever swung a bat.” He has now started 25 playoff games and reached base in 24 of them. He’s scored a run in 12 of the 25 and driven a run in 14.

“Postseason is definitely a lot more fun,” Turner said, according to The Ringer. “Sandy [Koufax] told me today, ‘162 is work. Once you get to the playoffs, it’s fun.’ … I agree with him 100 percent. … And just to be in the moment and soak it in and take a step back and look around and see almost 60,000 people in Dodger Stadium on their feet going crazy, it’s pretty special.”

According to The Ringer, Turner is a part of the “flyball revolution.” This helped turn him from a slap hitter into a slugger. He focuses on elevating the ball with an eye on extra-base hits, instead of line-drive singles.

The Dodgers are three games away from their first title since 1988. Turner is a lifelong Dodger fan, who now has three more chances to continue adding to his October legacy.

Exit mobile version