Former Dodgers star Justin Turner wins Mexican League championship with Tijuana

Last updated on September 18, 2026

Former Los Angeles Dodgers star Justin Turner is a champion once again.

The Long Beach native helped the Toros de Tijuana win the Mexican Baseball League’s Serie del Rey, capturing the third championship in franchise history. Tijuana defeated the Olmecas de Tabasco in six games, closing out the series Tuesday with a 2-0 victory at home at Toros Mobil Park.

“I would like to congratulate the entire city on the championship,” Turner said.

The infielder joined the Toros in April after a 16-year career in MLB. He played nine seasons with the Dodgers from 2014 to 2022 and helped the team break a 32-year championship drought in 2020. He was named NLCS MVP during those Playoffs.

His most recent MLB team was the Chicago Cubs, whom he played for during the 2025 season.

Turner joins players like Benji Gil, Fernando Rodney and Robinson Canó, who have won both a World Series and the Serie del Rey.

The 41 year-old player batted .295 with six home runs, 21 doubles and 28 RBIs in 65 regular-season games with Tijuana. In the Playoffs, he provided key production for the Toros, including a solo home run in Game 3 of the Serie del Rey that gave Tijuana insurance in a 2-0 victory. He went 1-for-3 in the championship-clinching Game 6.

¡GRÍTALO, TIJUANAAAAAA!

Cada juego, cada entrada, cada out nos trajeron hasta aquí.

¡SOMOS CAMPEONEEEEEES! 🏆#TorosDeCorazón pic.twitter.com/awCg5Okigk

— Toros De Tijuana 🐃⚾ (@TorosDeTijuana) September 16, 2026

Before a crowd of 17,434 fans, Adonis Medina and Jeremy Rhoades engaged in a pitchers’ duel, with both starters going four innings without allowing a run before the hit that gave the Toros the lead in the bottom of the fifth.

With Junior Lake and Jonathan Guzmán on third and second, respectively, Gilberto Celestino delivered a two-run single to center field, putting Tijuana ahead 2-0.

¡CELESTINO NOS DA VENTAJA!

SENCILLO productor de dos carreras ¡TENEMOS VENTAJA!

Presentado por Caliente#TorosDeCorazón pic.twitter.com/5a3kWD2J3Z

— Toros De Tijuana 🐃⚾ (@TorosDeTijuana) September 16, 2026

The Toros bullpen shut down the Olmecas over the final four innings to secure the victory and give Tijuana its third Serie del Rey championship with a 2-0 win over Tabasco.

Medina pitched five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, issuing no walks and striking out five.

Adbert Alzolay took over in the sixth and struck out two batters. Jonathan Aro pitched the seventh, striking out one while keeping Tabasco off the scoreboard. Roel Ramírez followed with a scoreless eighth, striking out two.

Brett de Geus closed out the ninth inning to secure the championship victory.

Rhoades pitched 5⅔ innings for the Olmecas, allowing two runs on two hits, issuing one walk and striking out seven. Nolan Blackwood and Jimmy Cordero completed the pitching duties for Tabasco.