NL DIVISION SERIES: CUBS VS BREWERS

October 6, 2025

Justin Turner

American Family Field

Chicago Cubs

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. There's a lot of guys on the roster that are young and getting their first taste of postseason baseball. You have a lot of experience in the postseason. What are some of the lessons or messages you've been saying to those young guys throughout the last week or two?

JUSTIN TURNER: Yeah, it's just about trusting the process, staying in your routines. When you get into the playoffs, everything seems to be amplified a little bit. Media, TVs everywhere, interviews. Things feel a lot bigger than in the regular season.

Finding ways to slow things down and, like I said, staying in your process, trusting your routine, that's the whole point of the routines, right, is you've done it so many times that when you get in these big situations and these big moments and these big games, when you get into your routine that you've done over and over and over again, those are the things that help you slow down those big moments.

Q. You've obviously gotten a lot of praise for being a good teammate this year. In a situation like this, do you feel like it's your job to sit back and read the room and see who needs a pat on the back or do you sit back and let people come to you leader?

JUSTIN TURNER: I think with this group, it's so many guys that don't think they have it all figured out. There's a ton of curious players in the room who want to show up and work and want to get better every single day.

Those kind of conversations kind of happen naturally. You don't really have to seek anyone out. There's guys having conversations constantly, not just with me but with everyone in the room.

That's what makes this group so special, and that's why it's been such a fun year for us, is the curiosity and the willingness to grow every single day is pretty cool.

Q. You kind of touched a little bit on the whole postseason experience stuff. What have you learned about yourself leading into this postseason and just the role you've been in? Obviously getting to hit lead-off today against a lefty. What have you learned about yourself and what it takes for you to be ready for these big moments in the playoffs?

JUSTIN TURNER: Yeah, you just try to be as prepared as possible, put your work in, be prepared, and then, like I said earlier, you get into your routine and try to slow the game down.

Obviously it's a little bit different this year. Not as many at-bats under my belt. But I don't think the work or anything leading up to it has differed at all.

Q. I know yesterday Ben Brown was talking to us and talking about how helpful you've been because of all your postseason experience and helping people go through this. I'm just wondering, have you thought of -- do you intend to stay in the game when your playing days are done? Would you like to be a coach or go that route when that time comes or is that something you've thought much about?

JUSTIN TURNER: I appreciate the question, but I'm a player. So we'll worry about that later on. We've got to go play the game today.

Q. Justin, whenever we talk to Pete, it seems like he'll say something like, JT was saying this or me and JT. Can you describe how your relationship has evolved over this season, and the stuff you talked about broadly at the beginning of this session, like how does that apply to Pete specifically of just being kind of a learner, a student, and engaging?

JUSTIN TURNER: It's funny, my relationship with Pete actually started back last November when I was hosting my foundation golf tournament and invited him out to play in it, and that was the first time I actually met him. That was before I ever knew I was going to be a Chicago Cub.

Then getting an opportunity to sign here and be a teammate of his, I think we kind of had a head start from that outing.

I obviously knew a bunch of guys over here from playing against them for a long time. A lot of guys in the room were former teammates. But Pete and I kind of had a little bit of a head start.

I don't know, I think we just naturally got along well right from the beginning, and he's one of those guys that has so many thoughts and questions and feels that he's going through at the plate, and I think between me and Coach Mallee, we just try to be the best sounding board for him and make sure he keeps moving in the right direction.

There's so much talent and so much ability there that as long as he's in a good place, he's going to impact the game for us one way or another.

When you're a five-tool player, it's not just about hitting. It's not just about hitting big home runs. He does it on the bases. He does it in the outfield. Just constantly reminding him that you don't have to go 10 for 10 with 10 homers to help us win ballgames.

Q. You've had big moments in the postseason. It's been a couple years since you've been back. You've had those big moments and there's still nerves going into today; is there doubt or are you confident?

JUSTIN TURNER: There's nerves going into every game. I think if you're not nervous, there's probably something wrong with you or you're lying.

That's all part of it, though. I think if you didn't feel something, then maybe it's time to find something else to do.

Q. You mentioned Pete. How have you seen him grow on the mental side or the off-the-field side from when you first met him from the beginning of the season until now? We can see the stats but how have you seen him grow behind the scenes?

JUSTIN TURNER: I think everyone has got to remember he's 23 years old. I'm sure you all read his article that he just came out with, and his mom reminds him of that all the time, that he's just 23.

What he's doing in the major leagues and at this level is extremely advanced and impressive. As long as he keeps showing up every day and continually be willing to grow and get better, he's going to be a pretty dynamic player in this game for a long time.

Q. In everything you've accomplished in your career, is this the first time lead-off in a postseason game?

JUSTIN TURNER: I think in the postseason, yeah. I've led off before, but in the post-season, yes.

Q. I'm curious, it's very much your personality to be this leader by example vocally, so when you have this opportunity, and Counsell says you lead off once a game, that's all that matters, but to get that chance, how you think about it and approach it. Not suggesting you're going to do anything different, but just getting that moment, that chance?

JUSTIN TURNER: Yeah, it's pretty special. I think when I found out I was doing it, it's kind of funny, if any of you guys have been around the Milwaukee Brewers for a while, David Freese did this for us with the Dodgers in the playoffs a few years ago. He led off and got one at-bat against the opener.

Not saying -- I don't know how long I'm going to get to go or how much run, but I feel good and comfortable knowing I'm in some good company with David Freese because he's one of my favorite teammates I've ever had all time. He did a pretty good job, too, so hopefully I can follow in his footsteps.