Los Angeles Dodgers: Justin Turner is the most Underrated Player in Baseball
By Jason Reed
That’s right, Justin Turner is not just the most underrated third baseman in the league, the Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman is the most underrated player in all of baseball.
Speak of the devil, as I am writing this Justin Turner just singled in the bottom of the first to tie the Phillies at one a piece. This hit extends his hit streak to a modest 16 games. Justin Turner has hands down been the most consistent member of this Los Angeles Dodgers team, and if wasn’t for his pinch-hit game-tying home run last night, the team may have lost.
If it wasn’t for Corey Seager, Justin Turner would easily be the best hitter on the Dodgers. Even with Seager on the team, it is narrowly close, as Seager barely edged Turner out in batting average.
However, look at Turner’s average this season – it is through the roof. Before today’s game Turner slash line is .388/.453/.541, slugging in 11 runs batted in on 33 hits. This is just clockwork for Turner, who last season slugged 27 home runs, drove in 90 runs, all while piecing together a .275 batting average.
These numbers put Turner atop the MLB’s best in terms of talent. According to FanGraphs wins above replacement Turner was the fifth best third baseman in baseball and the sixteenth best batter in all of baseball. Thus far in 2017 Turner is tied for first in third baseman WAR, and is tied for eighth in all of baseball.
Of course, it is very early in the season and 2017 is very young, but this hot start from Turner only solidifies Turner’s abilities. Building off of a great 2016 has only helped establish Turner as one of the best players in all of baseball.
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Despite that Turner has never been an all-star, has never won a Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, nothing. The only accolade that Turner has reeled in being the Rookie of the Month for the New York Mets in May of 2011. The Los Angeles Dodgers have themselves one of the best talents in all of baseball, and nobody seems to recognize it.
Sure, the MLB is enriched with many great third basemen. Guys like Kris Bryant, Nolan Arenado, Manny Machado, and Josh Donaldson all steal the spotlight from Turner. However, that is no reason to overlook how good Turner really is.
The way Turner is playing this year it is only evident that he is entering his prime. While he may not be getting the recognition he deserves now, there is no question in just a very short amount of time we all may be recognizing Turner as one of, if not the best, third baseman in baseball.
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Fellow fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers; you feel my pain. Us, the fans, witness Turner’s greatness on a nightly basis. One day, hopefully, the rest of the league will start to take notice.