Los Angeles Dodgers: Three players that will have career years in 2019
By Jason Reed
2. Justin Turner
This feels like it is going to be the last great prime season out of Justin Turner. It is nothing against Turner by father time always eventually has his way and he will be 35 heading into the 2020 season. While he can still be great, it feels like Turner is going to peak in 2019.
Right now Turner’s best season is 2017. In his lone all-star season, Turner hit .322 with a .945 OPS, 21 home runs and a whopping 10.3 percent strikeout rate. Turner has some of the best plate disciplines in all of baseball and is arguably baseball’s best hitter with two strikes.
If Turner did not start off the year injured in 2018 then he could have improved on his 2017. He did start slow once he got back but finished with a .312 average and .924 OPS. He proved that he was the motor of this team and hit .356 in the second half to help will the Dodgers to the postseason.
If Enrique Hernandez has not been the best hitter of spring thus far for the Dodgers then it has been Turner. Turner is hitting .421 in 26 spring plate appearances. He has only struck out three times, has walked four and has a 1.328 OPS.
Again, it is just spring and these numbers do not matter but it is indicating that Turner is off on the right foot. It took him some time to get that going last year and he already has a headstart this year.
Turner has already put together a truly great season in 2017. Having the best year of his career in 2019 will put him in the MVP conversation.