July 16, 2022

By Zach Worden

Canadian Baseball Network

Turner Spoljaric is just the latest pitcher from his family to find success on the mound.

A University of Oregon commit, Spoljaric is the youngest son of former MLB and Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Paul Spoljaric. His two older brothers Hunter and Garner also had successful careers growing up in Canada.

Garner has continued his baseball career south of the border and just finished pitching for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University after two years at Stetson and two at Heartland Community College.

Turner has spent this summer pitching for the West Virginia Black Bears of the MLB Draft League — the collegiate summer league that was created in 2021 to showcase top draft-eligible prospects.

The 19-year-old right-hander has posted an 8.50 ERA in 18 innings across eight games with the Black Bears. He has also struck out 14 while allowing just five walks and has picked up two wins.

Despite not having the stats he might want, Turner is soaking up the experience and honing his craft against other top prospects.

“It’s been an awesome experience for me. I’ve loved it and I’ve learned a lot, to be honest with you,” Turner said. “It’s been great being at the field every day. It’s long days, but it’s what I love to do.

“I think I’ve pitched pretty well overall, maybe not the best statistics, I would say. But I feel like I’ve done a good job of being adaptable and learning from my mistakes in the past.”

Being able to compete against the level of competition in the Draft League, Turner says, has given him a chance to see where he stacks up and get a feel for where he is as a pitcher.

As he heads towards the midsummer’s MLB Draft, Turner says the most important thing for him is to improve his command.

“I’d say improving command on all of my pitches, not just fastballs, is what I’d like to do. I want to be able to throw my curveball where I want it and when I want, and to have the confidence in myself to do so,” he said.

While he continues to work on his game, his dad Paul says it’s Turner’s baseball IQ and understanding of pitching that sets him apart from other young players.

“He knows what it takes, how to read hitters and he’s consistently improving on that. He’s got such great growth potential and it’s just great to watch him grow,” Paul said about his youngest son.

Growing up in a family where it’s been all baseball all the time, has given Turner the ability to develop that advanced understanding of the game.

“Growing up around it taught me almost everything I know. I’ve had a unique experience being around baseball my entire life,” Turner said. “I’ve been able to have a better understanding of things that maybe kids my age might not have yet, just because they haven’t had the experience or opportunity.”

In addition to having the experience of growing up around the game, coming from a family of five with two older brothers, Turner said the household dynamic was “competitive for sure.”

He carries that competitive spirit onto the field with him and credits his upbringing for fueling some of that competitiveness.

“Growing up with my brothers and always wanting to best them caused me to become as competitive as it comes,” he said. “I would say that’s a big component of my game. I don’t like being beat, but I feel in my heart that if I throw my best pitch and get beat on it, I can deal with it.

“But it drives me and I think it helps my game a ton.”

While his competitive nature can be traced back to being around his brothers and trying to keep up with them, where does the natural feel for pitching come from?

The answer may be obvious, but Turner couldn’t give his father enough credit for teaching him the game and how to succeed when he’s out there toeing the rubber.

“The number one thing he’s drilled into my head is to compete, to deal with adversity. stay poised and throw strikes,” he said. “There’s a whole lot more I could say, but if I could pick anything, that would be it. He’s taught me pretty much everything I know about pitching.”

For Paul as a parent, baseball was never pushed, his kids just naturally came to the game.

“As a family, we didn’t push baseball. All my boys and girls just gravitate towards the game,” he said. “I guess it’s just in the blood. It’s been great watching them develop and have a passion and love for the game.

“And not just on the field, but the off-field stuff too. Baseball is truly a family sport.”

If anyone can say that, it’s Paul Spoljaric.

With the MLB Draft scheduled for July 17, two Spoljarics are going through the process of preparing to potentially have their names called. Having both Turner and Garner going through it has their father on “pins and needles,” he says.

“It’s an exciting time. It’s just fun to watch them mature and grow,” Paul said about his feelings heading into the draft. “It’s like, ‘Holy smokes,’ this is all happening so quick, it can be an amazing summer for me.”

In regards to Turner’s situation specifically, Paul called it a “win-win” as no matter what happens over All-Star Weekend, Oregon will welcome Turner with open arms in the fall.

For Turner, it’s just about waiting and relaxing until the draft.

“I feel very prepared for either pro ball or school and at this point, I don’t feel that there’s too much more to do besides staying in shape,” he said. “For me, mentally, I’m prepared for it and physically, there’s not much more I can do.”