CLEVELAND, Tenn. — If Brandon Turner had his first professional baseball experience anywhere other than in Jamestown, N.Y., then everything would have been great.
“The experience was great for me. The North was not,” the former Walker Valley standout said. “The competition was good and everything went smooth, except for being in the North. I don’t know what it was, but I didn’t like anything about it, especially the cold weather.
“We were (close) to Niagara Falls, so although I didn’t care much for the town, I got to see a lot of things. (The town) wasn’t good, but they tried to make it adequate.”
Turner hit .331 in 2008 as a shortstop and second baseman for the Jamestown Jammers, the Florida Marlins’ Class A short-season affilate, and was selected to the New York-Penn League All-Star Game. He heads Friday for the Marlins’ spring training in Jupiter, Fla., and has high expectations for 2009.
He expects to start the season with the Low-A Greensboro Grasshoppers or the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads.
“This is going to be my first full year, so I’m not sure what to expect,” he said. “I just hope I can do what I need to do to move up.”
Coming out of Mississippi State University, getting used to being more on his own was his biggest adjustment.
“In college, you’re away from home, but you’re pretty much at home because meals are being cooked for you and everything’s still somewhat structured,” Turner said. “In Jamestown, I was on my own and had to take care of myself. My roommate (Ray White) would cook for us. We’d all walk to the grocery store and he’d cook whatever we’d buy: chicken, turkey, anything.”
Turner, who would have finished third in the league in batting had he had enough at-bats to qualify (he was 10 shy), enjoyed the diversity the Jammers brought him.
“It was cool being around so many types of people from everywhere around the world,” he said. “It was different but nice to experience. I really enjoyed playing with the Dominican guys; they’re always happy and fun to be around.”
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