Turner does more than bridge language gap for Ichiro, Marlins
When the Miami Marlins traveled nearly 7,500 miles to sign future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki as their fourth outfielder, those back in South Florida eagerly anticipated what the legend had to say.
His thoughtful musings about the organization giving him an opportunity and humbling him with enthusiasm were translated into English by interpreter, Allen Turner, who has worked with the 15-year veteran since his arrival to Major League Baseball in 2001.
Turner, whose mother is Japanese and whose father manages Japanese professional golfers, was born in California but grew up in Japan. For the first 10 years of his life, he only spoke Japanese before the family moved to Arizona, where he focused solely on English.
Less than a decade later as a 19-year-old ballplayer at Brigham Young University, Turner took a mission trip to Japan where he had to pick the language back up as a Japanese major.
It would pay off when the Seattle Mariners signed Kazuhiro Sasaki to be their closer in 2000. In need of an interpreter for the new addition to the organization, a Mariners scout in Arizona who knew Turner from high school baseball got him in touch for the gig.
Back then, there was a rule prohibiting interpreters from being on the field. Turner's baseball background came in handy as Seattle made him a bullpen catcher.
"They actually dressed me up like a catcher and I started playing catch with the outfielders," Turner recalled. "Guys just warming up, play catch, and that got into catching and I was able to do it. I did that full time from 2003 on. I could play catch, throw, whatever they needed me to do on the baseball field to help out. I was able to do that."
By 2004 when Sasaki returned to Japan, Turner stayed on as a bullpen catcher and to interpret for Suzuki, already a three-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glover and American League Most Valuable Player.
Interpreters can get into trouble by attempting to translate sentences verbatim, especially when languages such as Japanese and English differ so greatly. So to this day, Turner goes for the feel of what Suzuki wishes to express.
It became a learning experience. If Turner didn't understand the context of something Suzuki said, he would ask again rather than give incorrect information. In press conferences, Turner would use a notepad for long-winded responses, but his focus remained in taking in the moment and accurately portraying what Suzuki wanted to get across.
Sometimes, jokes get lost in translation. Sometimes, they work. Turner's favorite memories have occurred when the Japanese press laughed at Suzuki's words and the American media did the same once Turner had effectively translated the humor.
"I think that's the most important thing for me is first and foremost I understand what he's trying to say," Turner said. "Not just the language part of it, but what he's trying to say and what is the feeling he's trying to get across. That's what I really try and listen to what he's trying to say."
When Suzuki broke the single-season record for hits with 262 in 2004, Turner helped describe the feeling in words western media and fans could comprehend.
Although he no longer played the game he loved, Turner became part of the team -- traveling on the plane, stretching with players and throwing batting practice. He enjoyed many of the same perks as the players.
"It was weird how it worked out, but it was fun," Turner said. "Obviously my ultimate goal was to make it in the big leagues. It was in a different route, but it was fun to get here and be part of history with seeing 262 hits and being on that team in 2001 when the Mariners won 116 games. All those experiences have been awesome. It's been great."
Marlins first baseman Michael Morse, whose locker sits next to Turner's in the clubhouse, got to know Turner in 2005 during their overlapping time with Seattle. They reunited this year in Miami.
"He's a jack of all trades," Morse said. "He can do everything. He helps out during the game, he can throw BP to the pitchers. During BP he's got his glove on, he's taking throws from second base, first base, you name it. He brings a lot to a team, not just being an interpreter. He definitely is like an extra guy whenever coach needs him."
In 2006, Turner left to help his father with his business. During that timeframe, Suzuki and Turner still saw each other over the offseason in Japan or when Turner happened to be in the same area as the Mariners on a roadtrip.
When the Mariners traded Suzuki to the Yankees in 2012, he asked Turner to come to New York, and Turner did so, bringing his wife and four kids along. The same happened this winter when the Marlins inked him, except Turner's family remains in Utah. It will visit Miami over the summer once school is out.
"One thing I can say is just by having somebody able to translate Japanese to English -- that's not (all it is)," Suzuki said via Turner. "Obviously, personality wise and all that, you have to understand each other. You can't just have somebody who can translate and be able to do this throughout. Maybe you could have somebody who translates for a week or something, but when you're thinking about a whole year or years, other stuff comes into play that is important.
"I think that in order for a relationship to work -- there are some relationships where you go away and apart and don't see each other for a couple years, then that relationship doesn't build back up. But then there are other relationships where maybe you hadn't seen somebody for years and it's like you never left and it comes together. In this situation, you need something like that, that type of relationship to make it work. And for me, that's an important aspect in a relationship. For me, like I explained, being apart and you could pick right back where you left. That's probably something that's important to me."
Suzuki, at the age of 41 years old, nears the end of his career. Earlier this season, he set the all-time record for most runs by a Japanese player between his stats overseas and in the majors. He is 132 away from 3,000 big-league hits.
Once Suzuki retires, what lies next for Turner?
"I've always told him, 'I'm where you go. It doesn't matter for me,'" Turner said. "Whatever I can do to stay in touch with him and continue to help him in any way I can, that's something I would definitely love to do in the future. Of course, my father's golf business I'll definitely help out with that. I definitely want to keep in touch and be able to help him with whatever he does."
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