This oft-criticized Cubs offseason signing has turned things around in a big way

Love him or hate him, Justin Turner is someone who is going to ride out the entire season with the Chicago Cubs.

That didn't always appear to be the case. The veteran infielder and DH started the season out rather slowly (though some of that could be attributed to sporadic playing time) and wasn't really showing anything that could be called "slug."

Justin Turner’s pinch-hit prowess shows why the Cubs are keeping him for the long haul

However, as the season has gone on, Turner has shown his value to the team as more than a clubhouse leader and comedy relief. He has in fact, found a niche that makes him valuable off a Chicago Cubs bench that is a bit lacking otherwise. As a pinch hitter, Justin Turner has the value that could become even bigger if and when the Cubs head to the playoffs.

As a starting first baseman, Turner has been mostly bad, slashing .231/.260/.308/.568. He's even worse as the starting DH with a slashline of .128/.277/.154/.430 but as a pinch hitter? Someone who can come off the bench late in a game against a tough reliever?

Turner is slashing .286/.412/.500 (.912 OPS) in 17 plate appearances. Folded into that is that the veteran player is hitting lefties, the main reason he was added to the Cubs roster in the first place, to help out starting first baseman Michael Busch (a lefty batter).

Turner is now slashing .288/.338/.424 and boasting a 114 wRC+ against southpaws. Compare that to Busch's .186/.262/.322/.584 numbers.

Cubs fans are often annoyed when Turner plays against a left-handed pitcher over Busch, who is having a breakout season otherwise. But the first baseman at the moment, simply doesn't hit lefties very well. The hope is that changes at some point. The argument is that it won't change if he's not allowed to see them.

However, the Chicago Cubs are in the middle of what's shaping up to be a tight pennant race all the way down to the wire. An extra hit or even a walk here and there might be the difference in who wins the NL Central. Justin Turner has a better chance of getting that extra hit (provided he's used correctly) than fans might have realized.