North Carolina State University Athletics
Turner Visits Petco (VIDEO)
9/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TURNER VIDEO (MLB.COM)
Turner Visits Petco Park Jeff Sanders, U-T San Diego
The lean, right-handed hitter took batting practice before the game and fielded grounders in the latest stop on an offseason itinerary filled with more and more baseball activity.
Still to come: Work in the Padres’ instructional league program and appearances in the Arizona Fall League on the heels of an impressive pro debut.
“Lot of ups and downs this year,” said Turner, who batted .369/.447/.529 in 46 games with low Single-A Fort Wayne following a promotion from short-season Eugene (.228/.324/.283). “I started out a little rough, but I started to figure out how to play the game, how to make adjustments and what pro ball was like every single day and the travel and all that.
“It was awesome. I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.” READ MORE
Top Draft pick Turner takes in Petco Park Corey Brock, MLB.com
When the Padres used the No. 13 overall pick in June on shortstop Trea Turner, they were no doubt hoping he would arrive at Petco Park sooner than later.
But Friday afternoon?
Sure enough, Turner was at Petco Park on Friday, though the 21-year-old, with 69 professional games under his belt, was just here to take batting practice and field ground balls while the front-office staff and manager Bud Black got a look at him.
"It's good for the young man and a perk for him," Black said. "He made strides as the summer went on, which is a great sign. We're exposing him to a lot of things."
Turner, who posted a .323/.406/.448 line between two Minor League stops, will next head to Arizona in October to play in the Arizona Fall League among baseball's top prospects. For now, the North Carolina State product was content with his weekend in San Diego with his girlfriend and family.
"It's awesome being here," he said. READ MORE
