BISCUITS OPENER: Turner turning heads with infield wizardry
Biscuits infielder Gionti Turner became an instant star with his dazzling plays in the field in his early moments with the Biscuits. (Tim Gayle)
By GRAHAM DUNN
For a franchise loaded with athleticism, new infielder Gionti Turner certainly fits the bill as part of the Tampa Bay Rays organization.
If an example is needed, do a search on the Internet for his nifty turn of a double play just days after he arrived in Montgomery. (see video below).
Or another razzle-dazzle play from deep behind second base to throw out a runner at first.
Both were remarkable and both made the ever-popular ESPN nightly “Top 10” list.
“Yeah, I got them (phone calls) but I’m trying to keep it simple,”stated Turner, who has been with the Biscuits for less than a month but has already had an impact both on the field and in the clubhouse.
"It is just something that happens. You don’t think about it. You just make the play and make it work.”
Turner and the Biscuits open a six-game homestand on Tuesday against the Rocket City Trash Pandas. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.
Turner is another of the “true athletes” that manager Morgan Ensberg and the Rays love to develop in the system. He has all the tools but has made his mark early with his glove.
“Gionti is a manager’s dream,” Ensberg said. “He works extremely hard. He lifts the spirits of the entire team with the energy that he plays with and with his play on the field.
“With any organization there are two types of people. There are those that add energy and people that take it away. That helps influence the mood. Gionti brings a positive attitude and that’s contagious and you need that when you play a game where there is so much failure.”
A native of Pine Bluff, Ark., Turner is fairly new to the pro scene. He was 17 when drafted by the Cleveland Indians and spent two years in the organization before being traded to the Rays. He quickly began his ascension and in two years, was moved up to Triple-A Durham, skipping Double A and the Biscuits.
In early May, he was moved down to the Biscuits where he has continued to put on a show.
“Nothing is really different,” Turner admitted. “The pitching might be different but it’s baseball. As you go up each level, there is more consistency but the goals are the same. Hit the ball and play defense.”
Turner grew up with the expectations to play at the highest level in one of his three sports. Along with baseball, he was a star in football and basketball at Watson Chapel High School.
But his mom, Tonya Hollen, saw something when he played baseball. He had a knack. Others saw it, too.
“I was a point guard and shooting guard (in basketball),” Turner said. “Chad Cope was my baseball coach and he was tough on us. He wasn’t a hard liner but he wanted to get the most out of us. And I think he and my mom thought my future was in baseball.”
In his junior year of high school, Turner was called into the school office and was told by his mom and the principal that his future was as an infielder.
“I was told either I play shortstop or I have to stop playing,” he explained. “So I sort of had my choice made for me. But I think everybody saw what was best.”
At that point, the choice looks like the right one. Although he is still learning his craft at the plate, he is making more than enough plays in the field to keep opponents off the base paths.
“He’s in the top tier of athleticism,” Ensberg said. “He makes plays that others aspire to. Baseball has remained the same in that pitching and defense wins games and his ability to make plays so far away from his set position means there is an incredibly high value on his defensive ability. It’s fun and exciting watching players do what they do best.”
As for his newfound fame from the ESPN highlights, leave it to his manager to provide the best commentary on the two plays that had Turner a midnight success.
“Everybody erupted when they saw it,” Ensberg said. “They realize how difficult that play was. It was made out of efficiency. (On the double play),he was running towards left field so that it was more efficient to throw behind his back for the out.”
“I really don’t try to do things like that,” Turner added. “I’m here to improve and learn. Whatever they tell me to do, I do. It’s about playing.”
The Biscuits will return to Montgomery on Tuesday, May 30 for a six-game series against the Rocket City Trash Pandas. The projected pitching matchup features Mason Montgomery (0-2) for the Biscuits against Landon Marceaux (2-4) for the Trash Pandas.
The week will include a Shirsey T-Shirt Giveaway & Thirsty Thursday; Bacon Night featuring Bacon Biscuit Bobblehead Giveaway on Friday; Wizard Night and Fireworks on Saturday; and a Player Pillow Giveaway on Sunday, June 4.