Dreams do come true

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Stuart Turner on Reds’ opening day roster
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At 4:10 p.m. Monday afternoon in Cincinnati, Ohio, the dream will come true for Stuart Turner as he will join his Reds teammates on opening day against the Philadelphia Philles.
But that historic event for the former Eunice High and LSU Eunice standout is no surprise to his former coaches.
“He is the first baseball player from Eunice High to make it to the major league,” EHS head coach Scott Phillips said. “He is very deserving of this opportuntity.
“He has worked hard to get where he is at and it couldn’t happen to a better person.
“He makes things look easy behind the plate,” Phillips said. “It doesn’t come that easy to all catchers.
“He has the talent, he just needed a break,” the coach said. “I am so happy for his family.”
Turner was a three-time All-State, All-District and All-Acadian selection (2008. 2009, 2010) and helped lead Eunice to an appearance in the semifinals of the state playoff in 2009.
He was also named a Louisville Slugger All-America selection in 2009.
“There are great kids and then there are super great kids,” Phillips said “He is up there with the super great kids – he is humble and does what he is supposed to do.
“He is a better person than he is a player.”
Turner lettered two years at LSUE as he hit .343 with 61 hits, two home runs and 45 RBI as a freshman.
He hit .332 with 49 RBI, 52 runs scored and seven home runs as a sophomore.
He helped lead the Bengals to the 2012 NJCAA national championship and was named the Easton Defensive Player of the Year.
He was selected as a Rawlings Gold Glove winner and an Academic All-America selection with a 4.0 GPA.
“I’m extremely happy for Stuart and his family,” LSUE head coach Jeff Willis said. “He not only deserves to be there for the talent and work ethic he has, but also because of the type of person he is.
“Hats off to his parents Randy and Mindy for the son they raised and to Stuart for how hard he’s worked.”
Turner then spent one season at Ole Miss, and was named the nation’s top collegiate catcher for the 2013 season as the Johnny Bench Award recipient.
Turner helped Ole Miss to a 38-24 record and a NCAA Tournament appearance as he earned All-America honors and was named the Golden Glove winner at catcher by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
That season at Ole Miss, Turner threw out 51 percent of runners this (21-of-41) to lead the SEC in that category and all Bench Award finalists.
At the plate, Turner hit .374 for the season with 51 RBI, 44 runs scored, 15 doubles and five home runs.
Then after earning All-SEC first team honors, Turner was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 2013 MLB Draft with the 78th overall pick.
Turner spent four years in the Twins organization and played the last two seasons at Chattanooga.
Best known as a defensive catcher, Turner hit .223 at Chattanooga in 2015 and .239 last year.
The Reds claimed him in the pre-season Rule 5 draft and Turner hit 13-for-32 with five extra-base hits and more walks (6) than strikeouts (5) in 21 Cactus League games.
Turner cemented a spot on the opening day roster when Cincninnati catcher Rob Brantly was reassigned to minor-league camp Tuesday.
Turner is slated to serve as the backup to Tucker Barnhart with Devin Mesoraco (hip) still not up to speed.
“I don’t know where this will take him,” Phillips said of his former All-American catcher. “But this is a step in the right direction as he has his foot in the door – this is a great opportunity.”
Along with the promotion to the big leagues, Turner has another exciting event about to occur as his wife Danielle is expecting a baby boy to be born on Aug. 30.
In the history of EHS baseball three former Bobcats have been drafted.
Chris Fruge (Mississippi Delta Junior College) was drafted in 1988 by the Chicago White Sox and then Zac Person (LSUE, LSU) joined the EHS clubhouse wall when he was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2015.