Justin Turner on Cubs: "This is just a good baseball group"

Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - 3 hours ago

Chicago Cubs infielder Justin Turner spoke after the game about his approach to spring training, prepping for the Tokyo series and more.

“I’ve been taking a lot of ground balls at 3rd," Turner said. "I wanna be comfortable over there in case something happens or I gotta be over there.”

Turner was happy to see Sammy Sosa in the dugout.

“He’s one of the greats,” Turner said. “Any time you can get a guy around like that, I think you automatically revert to the little kid who was watching him do his thing, doing the Sammy Sosa hop. You just have a lot of respect for what he and McGwire did, really kind of making baseball popular again with that home run race.

“It’s cool to have him around and just talk it up with him.”

Watch the interview below:

Video summary/cliff-notes:

(00:00) Turner discusses his approach to spring training, emphasizing the importance of getting as many at-bats as possible to fine-tune his timing and adjustments.

(00:35) He highlights the need to jump into action quickly due to the short spring training schedule before heading to Japan for games.

(01:13) Adjusting to a new team varies in timing, and players constantly make changes throughout the season rather than feeling "set" after a certain point.

(01:38) Remembering names has become harder over the years, as players and coaches no longer wear name-labeled jerseys as often, making game time the best way to connect faces with names.

(02:11) He praises the team’s atmosphere, describing it as a great baseball group full of players who love the game and actively seek to improve.

(03:07) Turner reflects on Sammy Sosa’s presence in camp, recalling childhood memories of watching him play and appreciating his impact on baseball’s popularity.

(03:40) He emphasizes making the most of every day in the shortened spring training, ensuring he maximizes his reps, particularly in defensive drills.

(04:10) While taking ground balls at third base to keep his arm in shape, Turner notes he has played more first base in recent years but wants to be prepared for any position.

(04:38) His goal is to be available for 162 games, adapting to whatever role the team needs, especially with some uncertainty in his position this season.

(05:12) Turner appreciates having a manager like Craig Counsell, who played into his 40s, respects the players as professionals, and fosters a culture of mutual trust and accountability.