Turner's about-face career turns to Mets

JUPITER, Fla. - When it comes to the Mets' second-base derby, Justin Turner usually is an afterthought. Maybe that's because he's the candidate without a convenient label.

Luis Castillo is the overpaid incumbent. Daniel Murphy is the project. Brad Emaus is the Rule 5 pick. So when a reporter asked the other day about the Mets' three contenders for the job, manager Terry Collins made sure to hold up four fingers, as if he were calling for an intentional walk.

Oh, yeah. Turner.

In a sense, he doesn't mind the anonymity. Even now, Turner, 26, is known as the "hit-in-the-face-guy" after being struck by a pitch in the 2003 College World Series.

As a shortstop for Cal State Fullerton, Turner was nailed in the face during a semifinal against Stanford - former Met Chris Carter was on that Stanford team - and gained instant fame.

Not the kind anyone would want, of course. Turner suffered a badly bruised face and a chipped tooth, but he returned to the dugout for the 10th inning of that game. The worst of it was a fractured ankle, the result of his attempt to twist out of the way.

Turner continues to be recognized from that incident, mostly because of his red hair. Shortly afterward, Turner dyed it black to "get a breather" from the attention - especially in the Fullerton area - but there's no escaping the legacy of that pitch.

"I still get it everywhere I go from people that I played with," said Turner, who started at second base Friday in the Mets' 4-3 win over the Marlins. "The funny part is everyone knows exactly where they were, who they were with, stuff like that, which is pretty crazy to me because I got hit in the face - it's not like winning the World Series. It's a pretty weird experience to go through."

Seeing Carter last season in the Mets' clubhouse was another reminder, but Turner is looking ahead in trying to win a spot on this year's team. And for the first time, he doesn't have a significant player blocking his path to the majors - only roster technicalities. Turner has minor-league options left, meaning it would be easy to send him down to Triple-A Buffalo if he doesn't distinguish himself by a wide margin.

Drafted in the 29th round in 2005 by the Yankees, Turner never heard from them until he already had enrolled for the next year's classes at Fullerton. With Robinson Cano poised to take over the position, it was just as well.

Turner signed with the Reds in 2006 after being picked in the seventh round, but they wound up with Brandon Phillips - and Turner was shipped to the Orioles.

Baltimore already had Brian Roberts, but Turner still had his best chance to crack the Opening Day roster in 2010 when Roberts missed most of spring training because of a herniated disc. Roberts made it back in time to start the season, but Turner soon got the call anyway when the two-time All-Star wound up on the disabled list with a strained abdominal muscle after the first week.

The Mets grabbed Turner on a waiver claim last May after the Orioles designated him for assignment, and he batted .333 with a .390 on-base percentage in 78 games with Triple-A Buffalo. He also had 11 home runs in 312 at-bats and a .906 OPS, which is attractive to Collins, who said he views second base as an "offensive position."

"It's definitely a little different this year coming in and there's not a set guy over there," said Turner, who also plays shortstop and third. "Having two roles open as far as the second-base job and the utility job, I think I fall into both categories. Hopefully, the guys in the offices back there think that I can help the club win."