Will Turner made his submission for the best defensive play across the Minors in 2026 in impressive style for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs on Saturday night at Delta Dental Park at Hadlock Field.
In the top of the third, the Red Sox prospect darted back to the center-field wall on a ball off the bat of Reading’s Raider Tello (Phillies). Turner reached the warning track, clung to the top of the wall in a way that would make Spider-Man proud and hauled in a would’ve-been home run.
“I got a really good jump on it and I knew that I was gonna have a chance at it," Turner said. "As I was kind of going towards the wall, I was like, ‘OK, this is gonna carry a little bit, but it's not gonna go out by that much.’ I kind of took my eye off of the ball and looked at the wall just to make sure that my foot was in the right spot. I turned back and the ball’s right where I thought it was gonna be and just brought it down.”
Practice makes perfect is a mantra that often gets overused, though the South Alabama product admitted his catch was one that was years in the making.
“Well, you know what's crazy is I've actually -- in college -- attempted it a few times but I never caught one," Turner explained. "I would either mistime it or the ball would be a little too far. I practiced it a little bit and I feel like it was probably the perfect ball to do it on.”
As for the comparisons to the web-slinging superhero who returned to the big screen this summer, Turner will definitely embrace the nod.
“I would say I'm a big Spider-Man guy," Turner said. "Every time I do something like that, I just think of Bo Jackson when he ran on the wall for Kansas City. As a kid, I kind of did stuff like that growing up and I feel like it kind of just took me back a little bit, so it was really cool.”
Turner’s snag also offered a fairly reminiscent comparison to this wall-climbing grab from Athletics center fielder Denzel Clarke against Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel on June 9, 2025.
“That catch that Denzel Clarke made was incredible, and I was like, ‘That looks really cool, I'd love to do that,' Turner said. "And I made it happen tonight. So it was definitely a really special moment.”
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Beyond his history of dazzling catches in the Red Sox system, the 2024 seventh-rounder has contributed some pop with 14 home runs and a .375 on-base percentage in 2026. But his most recent submission to his defensive highlight reel took social media by storm.
“I'm just so blessed to play, and players make a lot of good plays on a daily basis in the Minors and in The Show," Turner explained. "I really take pride in my defense and it's always been a big thing for me. I really like taking hits away and doing whatever I can to make sure that happens. I always think robbing home runs is really cool.”