Justin Turner has surpassed expectations with the Red Sox
When the Red Sox signed Justin Turner in the offseason, he was expected to bring veteran leadership. While he was coming off a solid year at the plate, not many expected him to set new career highs. However, that is exactly what Turner has accomplished while becoming a fan favorite.
Through the first 127 games of his Red Sox career, the California native has posted a .282 batting average and driven in a career-high 91 runs. Turner is also providing the Red Sox with power in the heart of the lineup with 49 extra-base hits. That matches his total from last season, with 23 games left on the schedule.
While Turner’s power has been a welcoming addition, he is also getting on base at a higher rate than in years past. The veteran infielder has 137 hits this season, 16 short of tying his career high. Although the 2023 campaign has been a rollercoaster ride for the Red Sox, Turner has been a model of consistency.
Due to his play, the Red Sox will have an interesting decision to make in the winter. Turner has a player option for next season that will pay him $ 13.4 million. However, there is no guarantee the option gets picked up. Turner has not been shy about how much he enjoys Boston. However, he should be able to get a better deal on the free agent market and the Red Sox may have to enter a bidding war to keep him in Boston.
As the season winds down, Turner will be looking to continue his success while helping the Red Sox secure a playoff spot. He is only hitting .182 this month but already has two multi-hit games. There is also plenty of time left in the month to raise his batting average as he prepares for an offseason full of decisions.
While Turner has an uncertain future, he has shown during his Red Sox tenure that he can still carry an offense and be a threat in the middle of the order.
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The Mighty Red Sox have an uncertain future. Turner has a very bright one, he won't get what he deserves from the crew that let Betts walk away