When Justin Turner signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Cubs back in January, it was the clearest yet sneakiest offseason pick-up that went under the radar. The team wanted to squeeze another productive offensive year from the forty-year-old infielder. Seeing firsthand how quickly a fan base could rally behind the veteran slugger, and knowing how clutch he is at the plate and his leadership abilities in the clubhouse, he was a perfect fit for the Chicago team. Jed Hoyer and the front office hoped Turner’s leadership off the field could lead to a season long mentorship for the team’s young core, which as Boston fans saw when he played with the Red Sox in 2023, one season is more than enough time for Turner to come in and get the younger players to rally together and play as a cohesive unit. The plan when Turner signed was for him to platoon at first base with Michael Busch, while also splitting time at designated hitter and as a backup third baseman for whomever they chose to fill the everyday role once Isaac Paredes got traded to the Astros. While Turner’s year in the windy city hasn’t been as groundbreaking offensively as he or the front office had hoped, last night’s loss against the Minnesota Twins was special for him as it highlighted the veteran’s 200th home run in his seventeen-year-long career.

Career home run No. 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ for Justin Turner 👏

(MLB x @BudweiserUSA) pic.twitter.com/AnQPZFw5Mc

— MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2025

This 200th home run of his came as the only run in the Cubs’ 8-1 loss, hooking Wentz’s 85 mph cutter out to left field 371 feet, the ball traveling with an exit velocity of 99 mph. Despite only having two home runs on the season so far, JT’s ability to hit the ball well on all sides of the field has proven to be one of the most essential tools in terms of the longevity of his playing time. With a career stat line of .284/.817/.455, despite his playing time and offensive production both struggling through the 2025 season, where he’s currently slashing only .215/.296/.299 through his 107 at-bats. His .595 OPS has dropped significantly from the .737 mark he posted last year between Toronto and Seattle; however, moments like last night’s are evidence that Turner still has gas left in his tank, despite this likely being his last season as a player. Once retired, of course, he will want to spend time with his family, and rightfully so, but that leadership presence that Jed Hoyer, Craig Counsell, and his teammates see cannot be denied, making Turner the prime candidate to be a player-turned-coach (potentially for one of the seven teams he’s played for).

#Cubs Justin Turner meets the guy who caught his 200th career homer. He’s also named Justin. And redheaded. Oh, and a Cubs fan.

“I hit it to the right guy” -JT

“Well it helps to be 6’6” and in the second row” -fan Justin 😂 pic.twitter.com/QpqFpF7Qdh

— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) July 9, 2025

While Turner’s heroics didn’t mean much to the team’s score, it meant a lot to the vet and fans who make up the Cubs fanbase, especially those who traveled to Target Field to see the team play. Out of all the spectators in the crowd, Turner somehow managed to hit it directly to a Cubs fan that was out there, and more ironically enough, the fan’s name is also Justin (and is a redhead). There’s always a chance that if one hits the ball out, like Turner did, there’s not always a chance it can come back. With the ball serving as a physical memento of the accomplishment, fan Justin decided to also show some postgame heroics by returning the ball to the rightful Justin, and the two of them met up in person after the game, where Turner gifted him a signed bat and glove in exchange for the ball. As a JT fan for some time now, it was an exciting moment to witness, and I could not be happier for him!