Red Sox prospect Will Turner reflects on draft process, similarities with Jarren Duran, and more
Over the last few years, the Boston Red Sox have shown a talent for developing outfielders. In the 2024 MLB Draft, they continued to add to their talent pool, selecting four outfielders, including Will Turner. The University of South Alabama product brings a unique skill set to his new organization that has drawn comparisons to a current Red Sox star.
In three seasons as a Jaguar, Turner posted a .284 batting average while driving in 112 runs. He also made an impact with his speed, stealing 35 bases, including 12 during the 2024 campaign. In some ways, Turner has modeled his game after Jarren Duran.
“ He’s a guy I really like watching play because I feel like I’m very similar to him,” Turner said. “Maybe not as jacked, but I feel like our playing styles are super similar. I love the way he goes about it. He has fun playing the game, and he plays super hard. That is something to look up to. That’s the kind of guy I want to play with and win a World Series with.”
While the MLB Draft is full of unknowns, the Red Sox are an organization Turner got to know well over the last year. In the seventh round, the Dothan, Alabama, breathed a sigh of relief when his name was called.
“ I would say they were a team I would have liked to get picked by heading into the draft,” Turner said. “ Whenever I met with the area scout throughout the preseason and another time during the season, it went well. I liked what the Red Sox were about and when I meet with some front office guys at the combine I really like what they had to say.”
Although Turner struggled during the 2024 campaign, he is only a year removed from a stellar summer in the Cape Cod League. In 33 games for Brewster, Turner posted a .295 batting average. He also added four extra-base hits to his resume, including two home runs and showed why he was one of he best hitters in the Sun Belt Conference.
“ It was amazing,” Turner said. I played against a lot of the guys that are with me in Fort Myers. I told people up until this point that it was the most fun I had playing the game because it was like playing in the backyard again as a little kid. I am so thankful I was able to experience that.”
As the talented outfielder starts his pro career, he is eager to make a good first impression. For Turner it is a perfect fit as his game mirrors alot of what the Red Sox look for.
“ I feel like the way that I play kind of aligns with the culture and the way that fans and the organization like guys to play the game.”
