February seventh, 2023 at 8:00 am 
by Amie Cuevas Eight days and counting till Dodgers pitchers and catchers report back to the coaching amenities at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. This would be the first alternative followers need to see how the potential participant puzzle items will match as the brand new group begins to return collectively as soon as Spring Coaching will get underway.
There are a variety of gamers who joined different groups by way of free company this low season that shall be sorely missed. However there was one identify that regularly got here up through the FanFest participant interviews at Dodger Stadium this previous Saturday – current 2022 Roberto Clemente Award Winner and 2020 World Collection Champion third baseman Justin Turner, who signed a two-year contract with the Boston Purple Sox this low season.
Turner, a Southern California native, spent 9 seasons with the Dodgers and have become tightly woven into the material of Los Angeles and its group. Everybody feels strongly in regards to the loss, however nobody can put it into higher phrases than his now former teammates.
Dodgers infielder and 2020 World Collection Champion Max Muncy summed up his emotions about shedding his pal and unofficial group captain with the media throughout FanFest this weekend.
“It’s been fascinating, you recognize. We nonetheless have our group chat with the total group from final 12 months, Muncy instructed reporters. “At any time when somebody would get a deal, the entire group would go nuts, ‘Yeah man, there you go, congratulations guys.’ It’s unhappy to see everybody depart, however you’re so completely happy for these guys.
“, you spend each single day with them beginning right here in about three weeks till the tip of October,” Muncy continued. “, you develop such a relationship that after they exit they usually get their offers like you could’t be something however completely happy for them. , it hurts to see them depart however I do know that we even have greater than sufficient items to fill their footwear and I feel will probably be a enjoyable, thrilling 12 months.”
(Amie Cuevas)
Throughout his 5 seasons with the Dodgers Muncy has hung out everywhere in the infield, however shared third base with Turner in the direction of the tip of the previous season. He would be the main contender to take over ‘The Scorching Nook’ in JT’s absence.
Catcher Austin Barnes, who caught the ultimate out to win the 2020 World Collection, is probably one of many longest-tenured gamers with the group at eight years, together with battery mate and future Corridor of Fame pitcher Clayton Kershaw. He has spent appreciable high quality time with Turner throughout the seasons and shared his perspective with the media.
“Yeah, I imply I like JT,” Barnes expressed. ‘He was undoubtedly a voice for lots of people.
“Yeah, it’ll be arduous,” Barnes conceded. “However you recognize what? We’ll determine it out. We’ll adapt and determine who we’re as a group. And you recognize management, stuff like that, we’ve obtained guys like Mookie (Betts) and Freddie (Freeman) – they’ve been taking part in baseball within the huge leagues at a excessive stage for therefore lengthy. , I feel now we have a extremely good group and I feel all people’s actually assured that we will do it.”
(Amie Cuevas)
Freeman, a six-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger, and Gold Glove first baseman, had considerate replies when requested a few occasions by media on Saturday how the group will be capable to change Turner’s voice within the clubhouse.
“, to switch Justin Turner, we’ll begin with Justin as a result of what he means to the Los Angeles Dodgers, to the group, can’t change that. You simply can’t,” Freeman mirrored. “Boston Purple Sox obtained a very good one. He was such a giant a part of me coming over right here and for him to be gone after one 12 months, I’m like ‘geez, you weren’t supposed to go away after me being right here for one 12 months.’ However Purple Sox obtained a very good one. They’re going to like him simply as a lot as we love him right here.”
“You possibly can’t change. You possibly can hopefully, as a bunch, choose up the void,” Freeman continued. “There’s going to be a gap. It’s Justin Turner – he’s been right here for 9 years – clutch hit after clutch hit after clutch hit. And the group, it looks as if each day he was coming in and he had one thing occurring. And what he means to the group after which he is available in and performs at night time, too. That’s arduous to do. We’re going to overlook him, LA followers are going to overlook him. He’s solely gone for a 12 months or two, so we’re going to get him again quickly. However I can’t let you know what we’re going to do to fill it. It’s simply, naturally, these issues occur.”
(Freddie Freeman)
Evidently, gamers and followers alike will miss @redturn2 within the lineup, but stay optimistic for the approaching season. There are some huge footwear to fill, however the Dodgers don’t have any scarcity of expertise.
The soon-to-be former teammates even obtained an opportunity to spend the day collectively through the Seventh Annual Justin Turner Golf Traditional on Monday afternoon. Throughout that extraordinarily widespread occasion, one of many Dodgers’ new expertise, 25-year-old right-hander Ryan Pepiot, even hit a gap in a single, the primary ever throughout Turner’s annual charity occasion.
However it doesn’t matter what, The Boys in Blue will work collectively in the direction of the purpose they’ve yearly – to convey one other World Collection trophy again to Los Angeles.
Let’s go Dodgers!
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