Last year, it was Dillon Gee catching the beard enthusiasts in the Mets fanbase by storm with an excellent chin-only Goatee. Looks like Justin Turner will be taking those reigns this spring. Dillon’s lasted till late-May/early-June. Who knows if Number 2′s beard will even make it out of February.

We do not yet have a Rising Apple-certified photo to show you of the beard, but the second we do you will see it right here. Adam Rubin of ESPN New York got a pretty good headshot at this link, which was also posted above.

Any updates regarding the Red One’s facial hair will be promptly delivered to all you awesome patrons. That goes for all the players in camp this year.

(And, of course, Justin Turner’s progress in the outfield as well.)

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We’d much appreciate it!

Any team that is going to succeed needs a few key components, such as one or two star hitters and an ace pitcher.  But teams also benefit from folk heroes; a guy with a good story who comes out of nowhere and unexpectedly contributes to the team in a significant way, often becoming very popular with the fanbase in the process.  Cody Ross quickly became a folk hero among San Francisco Giants fans after clubbing five postseason homers and knocking in ten runs en route to the World Series championship.  Folk heroes can give a team something a little something extra, and are particularly useful when other players are injured.  The Mets are fortunate in that they have three men who fit this description. (more…)