Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner made his major league debut on September 8, 2009, at Fenway Park in Boston while a member of the Baltimore Orioles.
He went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
Three days later, on September 11, 2009, the (then) 24-year-old Long Beach, CA native and seventh-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2006 out of Cal State Fullerton (and later traded to Baltimore on December 9, 2008), collected his first major league hit; a pinch-hit single to center field in the top of the ninth inning off of New York Yankees left-hander Mike Dunn, at Yankee Stadium.
That was exactly 3,987 days ago.
On Monday night, the (now) 35-year-old bearded redhead and Dodgers everyday third baseman collected his 999th career hit; a single to (wait for it…) center field in the bottom of the fourth inning off of San Diego Padres right-hander Cal Quantrell, at Dodger Stadium.
During his remarkable 12-year major league career, Turner has hit 639 singles, 230 doubles, nine triples, and 121 home runs while driving in 484 runs.
There is every reason to believe that Turner will achieve his milestone hit on Tuesday evening against those same San Diego Padres at a fan-less Dodger Stadium.
Whether you are a Dodger fan or not (although you probably wouldn’t be reading this if you weren’t), you do not want to miss Turner’s milestone 1,000th career hit, even if only on TV.
Play Ball!
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It will be good to see Turner get that 1000 hit, when he gets it. He’s been a great Dodger in the time he’s been with them.