Dodgers: Justin Turner is a legitimate NL MVP candidate

Justin Turner is having a fantastic season after signing a four-year, $64 million contract with the Dodgers.

At 71-31, the Dodgers are well on their way to a historic season. On the outside many would accredit the likes of Cody Bellinger and Clayton Kershaw, and rightfully so. The Dodgers are 62-20 since Bellinger’s debut and the latter is the best pitcher of this generation. However, after Wednesday nights walk-off single over the Twins, it is time to start recognizing Justin Turner as a legitimate NL MVP candidate.

He lacks the flashy home run and RBI totals that other candidates like Bryce Harper and Paul Goldschmidt have, but his peripherals are up there at the top of the league. This is impressive considering he has missed time due to injury.

In 76 games Turner (.362/.456/.556) leads the National League in batting average, OBP, and is second to only Harper in OPS. Turner is showing immense patience at the plate this season with more walks (38) than strikeouts (34). That is a major upgrade from last season’s ratio of 48 walks to 107 strikeouts. Turner’s patience has lead him to increase his OBP nearly 120 points from last season.

Yes, there are questions about Turner’s extremely high BABIP. However, his strikeout rate is on pace to be a career low.  He has the fourth lowest K% among qualified hitters in the majors, second lowest in the NL to Washington’s Daniel Murphy.

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It is also well below any season he has had with the Dodgers. That is when he changed his approach at the plate to produce more power by raising his launch angle. If he keeps his strikeout rate down, his BABIP won’t be much of an issue.

His peripheral numbers are even more impressive. According to Fangraphs, Turner is second in the NL in wOBA, first in wRC+, and fourth in WAR. With time missed due to injury, these numbers are outstanding.

At the hot corner Turner remains a pillar of the Dodger’s defense. He comes in at seventh in defensive runs saved among 3B, per Fangraphs.  He should continue to rise up that list as the season goes on.

Turner has rewarded the Dodgers for giving him that four-year, $64 million deal in the winter. Everything Turner does as a Dodger looks like gravy since they signed him to a minor league deal in 2013. Now the Southern California native sits in the MVP discussion.

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Lacking the high home run and RBI totals along with splitting votes with Bellinger may lead to Turner missing out on MVP recognition. There is no question he is deserving of serious consideration.