Former Ole Miss Standout Catcher Stuart Turner Selected in Rule 5 MLB Draft

Photo Courtesy of Joshua McCoy/Ole Miss Athletics

Former Johnny Bench Award winner and Ole Miss catcher Stuart Turner was selected by the Cincinnati Reds organization in the Rule 5 MLB Draft.

Held every year after the MLB Winter Meetings, the Rule 5 draft allows teams to select other players from other organizations’ minor league rosters. Players who were signed when they were 19 or older and have played in professional baseball for four years are eligible, as are players who were signed at 18 and have played for five years, according to MLB.com. Turner was originally selected by the Minnesota Twins 78th overall in the 2013 draft after an impressive career with the Rebels

Turner transferred to Ole Miss from LSU at Eunice in 2013. On his way to becoming college baseball’s top catcher in his lone season with the Rebels, he hit .374 with 51 RBI and five HRs. Turner shined behind the plate as well throwing out 51 percent of runners, which led the SEC. Turner was an All-SEC first team selection, All-American and a Gold Glove recipient that year before being selected by the Twins. 

Since being drafted, Turner spent time with the Elizabethan Twins in the Rookie-level Appalachian League. In 2014, Turner was invited to spring training and was sent to single-A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle. In 2015, Turner played with the AA Chattanooga Lookouts, where he remained for the 2016 season. In his two seasons with the Lookouts, Turner hit .223 and .239 respectively and hit a total of 10 home runs and drove in 78 runs.

Turner joins former Rebels Hawtin Buchanan, Brantley Bell and Zach Cozart (MLB roster) with the Reds organization.

Steven Gagliano is a writer for HottyToddy.com. He can be reached at steven.gagliano@hottytoddy.com. 

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