Former Dodgers infielder Justin Turner lauded the 2025 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays for its excitement and record viewership. Turner, who played for both teams in recent years, highlighted how the series featured dramatic moments and helped grow the sport. He noted it was one of the highest-watched World Series in 30 years.
Justin Turner, a nine-year veteran with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2014 to 2022, reflected on the 2025 World Series matchup between his former teams, the Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays. Speaking after the series, Turner emphasized its role in boosting baseball's popularity. "I think it had a little bit of everything," he said. "It had extra innings, it had walk-offs, it had pinch-hit grand slams, it had four starting pitchers pitching in one game, crazy plays at the plate. It was just jam-packed, full of action."
The series drew a record-setting audience, with Turner pointing out the international appeal involving fanbases from two countries and Japanese players on the Dodgers, effectively representing three nations. He described it as "one of the highest-watched World Series in 30 years," crediting it with growing the game and inspiring young fans. "We want to grow the game and we want to inspire young kids to fall in love with the game early, chase their dreams and hopefully they’re the ones playing in Game 7 of the World Series," Turner added.
Turner's perspective comes from his extensive experience across MLB. After leaving the Dodgers at the end of 2022, he signed one-year deals with the Boston Red Sox in 2023, the Blue Jays in 2024—where he was traded midseason to the Seattle Mariners—and the Chicago Cubs in 2025. With the Cubs, as the No. 4 seed in the National League, they defeated the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card Series but lost to the Milwaukee Brewers in a five-game NLDS. The Dodgers, meanwhile, swept the Brewers in the NLCS to reach their fifth World Series in nine seasons.
Turner intends to play in 2026 and has expressed interest in retiring with the Dodgers on a one-day contract. Separately, he hosted the ninth annual Justin Turner Foundation Golf Classic at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, with current and retired MLB players in attendance.