Stuart Turner Stats & Scouting Report

AB	82
AVG	.134
OBP	.182
SLG	.244
HR	2

Full name Randy Stuart Turner
Born 12/27/1991 in Eunice, LA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Mississippi
Debut 04/06/2017
Drafted in the 3rd round (78th overall) by the Minnesota Twins in 2013 (signed for $550,000).

View Draft Report

Turner hails from Eunice, La., and went to Louisiana State-Eunice JC for two seasons, hitting .400 and earning tournament MVP honors last year as LSU-Eunice won the Division II NJCAA World Series. Nevertheless, he wasn't drafted and landed at Ole Miss, where he has been the Southeastern Conference's best catcher this season. Turner had been pitched around a bit in league play but remained the Rebels' best hitter and earned plaudits from scouts as the nation's best draft-eligible defensive catcher. He combines strength at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds with flexibility, agile feet and excellent arm strength. He had thrown out 20 of 39 basestealers, with consistent 1.9-second pop times. While Turner has performed at the plate this spring, scouts don't like his swing and question his ability to sting the ball consistently. He has controlled the strike zone and ranked third in the SEC in batting at .389.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Signed for $550,000 as a third-round pick, Turner continues to display the leadership skills that made him the second college catcher drafted in 2013. For the second straight season under manager Doug Mientkiewicz, Turner handled a league-champion pitching staff. Solidly built and durable, the former first-team Baseball America All-American is a smooth receiver and blocker with a plus arm and a quick release. Offense, however, has been slower to develop. After hitting .189 in the first half and dropping his leg kick at midseason, Turner rallied for the second straight season with a solid second half. Another slow start at the Arizona Fall League, however, prompted him to resume the leg kick in an effort to generate more power. While he showed signs in batting practice of getting to his pull side with authority, Turner is at his best when he uses a short, line-drive swing with occasional gap power. Despite below-average speed he is a smart baserunner and efficient basestealer. Just seven months younger than John Ryan Murphy, the big league catcher acquired from the Yankees for former first-rounder Aaron Hicks, Turner figures to open 2016 at the starter at Triple-A Rochester.
Signed for $550,000 as a third-round pick, Turner has displayed the leadership skills that helped make him the second college catcher drafted in 2013. Solidly built with a classic catcher's frame, he moves well behind the plate and shows a plus arm. His pitch calling improved as the season progressed, and he sets a good tone and pace with his pitchers. Offensively, he shows a short, line-drive swing and knows how to work the gaps, but he projects as a below-average hitter overall. A smart baserunner with below-average speed, Turner was perfect in seven stolen-base attempts. His catch-and-throw skills make him attractive as a potential big league backup or possibly starter if his bat develops. With Kurt Suzuki signed though 2016, Turner could push for playing time by the end of that deal.
Signed for $550,000 out of the third round, Turner was the second college catcher drafted in 2013. A first-team All-American his only season at Mississippi, Turner earned tournament MVP honors in 2012 when he helped Louisiana State-Eunice JC win the Division II NJCAA World Series. His advanced receiving skills, leadership traits and competitive fire impressed Rookie-level Appalachian League managers, as he ranked as the league's No. 18 prospect. He still needs to refine his game-calling, but he had no problem handling an Elizabethton staff that at various times featured five other top 30 prospects, including Kohl Stewart, Luke Bard and Felix Jorge. When a mound visit was required, Turner often handled the honors on his own. He has soft, reliable hands, is flexible enough to block balls in the dirt and shows a plus arm with outstanding accuracy. In college he threw out more than 50 percent of basestealers and flashed consistent pop times of 1.9 seconds to second base. He frames pitches well and has quick feet and quiet movements. Strong with a solid frame, Turner could hit for average power in time. For now he has a line-drive swing that has some stiffness and length. He can get too pull-conscious and is a below-average runner, but the defensive skills trump all at this stage. He'll head to full-season ball in 2014, probably at a low Class A Cedar Rapids.

Draft Prospects

Turner hails from Eunice, La., and went to Louisiana State-Eunice JC for two seasons, hitting .400 and earning tournament MVP honors last year as LSU-Eunice won the Division II NJCAA World Series. Nevertheless, he wasn't drafted and landed at Ole Miss, where he has been the Southeastern Conference's best catcher this season. Turner had been pitched around a bit in league play but remained the Rebels' best hitter and earned plaudits from scouts as the nation's best draft-eligible defensive catcher. He combines strength at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds with flexibility, agile feet and excellent arm strength. He had thrown out 20 of 39 basestealers, with consistent 1.9-second pop times. While Turner has performed at the plate this spring, scouts don't like his swing and question his ability to sting the ball consistently. He has controlled the strike zone and ranked third in the SEC in batting at .389.

Minor League Top Prospects

A first-team BA All-American in the spring, Turner was the second college catcher drafted in 2013, signing for $550,000. In a league full of talented but mostly unrefined players, he stood out with advanced defensive skills and a higher probability of reaching the majors. Turner was one of the top defenders in the league because of his soft, steady hands, advanced blocking ability and plus arm with good accuracy. Mangers applauded his quick feet, quiet movements behind the plate and above-average framing ability. His defense alone should make him a solid major league backup if his bat does not progress. Turner has the strength to hit for average power, but he has more of a line-drive swing that may keep him from reaching that power ceiling. His swing also has some stiffness and length. He?s a pull hitter and a well below-average runner.