Justin Turner, a 17-year veteran of Major League Baseball, is going to keep playing baseball, heading south of the border in 2026.
According to a post on the social media site X by Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster David Vassegh, Turner has signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol for the coming season.
Source confirms Justin Turner has signed to play with Tijuana Toros in Mexican League. ???????? #Dodgers Teammates used to refer to JT as "Rojo Chingon” pic.twitter.com/RWDHvyFQ6g
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) April 11, 2026
Born in Long Beach, California, Turner grew up in suburban Los Angeles and played nine seasons and 1,045 games with the Dodgers, while also spending four seasons with the New York Mets, two seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, one each with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, and split the 2024 season between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners.
A two-time All-Star, Turner batted .283/.360/.454 with a .814 OPS and a 122 OPS+ in MLB, hitting 201 homers and driving in 831 runs over 6,502 plate appearances in 1,758 career games. He won the 2020 World Series with the Dodgers, notably missing Game 6 after testing positive for Covid-19 and the controversially returning to the field to celebrate in violation of MLB’s protocols.
With Tijuana, Turner is an upgrade at first base, where the Toros used both Raudy Read and Rangelo Ravelo last season, or could potentially see time at third base should manager Roberto Kelly opt to move Hernan Perez to first base.
The LMB season begins on April 16 when the Piratas de Campeche visit the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in the season opener. Tijuana’s season begins on April 17 on the road when the Toros open the season with a three-game series in Saltillo.
Photo: Chicago Cubs’ Justin Turner walks on the field during batting practice, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Chicago, the day before Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
