OF Jeffrey “JJ” Turbin
2010 AIA Fire
2011 Chugiak Eagle-River Chinooks
H/W: 6’0″ – 175lb
B/T: Left/Left
2012 School: Westmont College (California, NAIA)
2012 Class: R.S. Sophomore
Draft Eligibility: 2013 (NAIA JR), 2014 (NAIA SR)
Home town: Hayden, ID
All Posts Regarding JJ Turbin
The Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks have a new name, a new logo, new uniforms and a new ballpark to call home, but they haven’t severed all ties with their past as the AIA Fire. One link to that past is outfielder JJ Turbin, a second-year ABL player who has played for both clubs. He’s playing an instrumental role in the team’s new-found success during the first half of 2012.
Turbin hails from Hayden, Idaho, just a few minutes north of Coeur d’Alene in the state’s northern panhandle. The lefty attended Coeur d’Alene High School where he starred in football, as a starting quarterback, as well as baseball and maintained a 4.1 GPA.
Originally recruited by Oregon State, Turbin found himself redshirting his true freshman year before transferring out. He left the relative proximity of the Pacific Northwest and headed down the coast to Westmont College in Montecito, California. Westmont is a small, Christian private school which competes athletically in the NAIA. Since transferring Turbin has benefited from regular playing time as a starter his redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons.
He’s had success since attending, with a career collegiate batting average of .351, 30 stolen bases, and only 3 errors as a full-time everyday starter. This spring he was named All-Conference and awarded the outfield Gold Glove in the GSAC. His success hasn’t been limited to college play; in the Alaska League last season he was chosen to the league’s inaugural All-Star Game.
According to the Westmont website, his favorite quote is “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Watch Turbin play and you’ll see that those aren’t just empty words. The thing that has stuck out over the past season and a half I’ve watched him is his aggressive style of play. He goes big and leaves it all out on the field every game. 100% every time with this guy. He’s lean and athletic, he’s good on defense, he can run, and he can rake. So far I’d say he’s making a strong case for another trip to the ABL All-Star game; as of July 1 he’s hitting .311 with a triple and a homer.
If he keeps it up, he might hear his name called in the MLB draft in the next year or two.
49thstatehardball.com will be releasing profiles on Alaska Baseball League players from all the teams, all season long. Check back with us daily as we spotlight more players, as well as photos, game notes, scouting videos, and other info.
Jesse Jack is a life-long Alaskan (except for a stint in Montana) who studies Civil Engineering at the University of Alaska Anchorage from August through May, and lives at the ballpark during June and July. 
