Justin Turner's early production makes him one of the best signings of the offseason

In typical AL East fashion, the Jays are 9-8 on the young season, yet last place in their division. Despite being ranked in 5th place, the team is still in range to catch up to all the teams ahead of them. While the pitching staff is beginning to come back to form from top to bottom, the offense has a few key players that are giving the Jays a chance. The most important out of everyone thus far is none other than Justin Turner. The 39-year-old was signed to a one-year deal back in January, and so far the signing is paying dividends for the Jays.

Turner has played in 15 games so far, and what he's done in that time is nothing short of remarkable. He's hitting .362/.466/.574 with 7 doubles and a home run. Turner currently has a 203 wRC+, which is 5h in all of baseball. That ranks ahead of hitters like Mookie Betts, Mike Trout, and Juan Soto. Needless to say, Turner has been contributing in a big way to this Jays lineup. At this rate, he'll end up being one of the most valuable additions to a team this off-season.

Turner believes in the offensive core he's a part of as well. After defeating the Colorado Rockies in a 5-0 game, Turner said, "The offence is kind of scratching the surface. I think there's a whole lot more in the tank and when we get going and clicking on all cylinders, it's going to be a fun offence to be a part of."

While the offense might be scratching the surface, Turner has clearly tapped into all the elements that have made him successful in the past. According to Baseball Savant, he is ranked in the upper echelon of most offensive metrics, and it checks out when watching him on the field. Turner has walked as many times as he's struck out, while hitting the ball hard on a consistent basis. This is the best version of Justin Turner in a few years, and the Jays are reaping all of those benefits.

It was always clear that the Jays needed a designated hitter in the off-season. With options like Jorger Soler and J.D. Martinez, there was a lot of potential power hitting additions that could click with the Jays lineup. In the end, the Jays went with Turner and despite some outsiders believing that may not have been the right choice, this offense could not do without him in the early stretch.

While Turner has impressed in the early going, the burden cannot be placed on him and him alone. If the Jays start getting the production they expect out of George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, then the top of the offense will be primed to score runs, all while being led at the helm by Justin Turner.