FORT MYERS, Fla. -- When Justin Turner got to the Dodgers in 2009, he was so attached to the No. 2 jersey that he asked Tommy Lasorda if he could wear it. The Dodgers retired Lasorda's number just weeks after he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, and his answer to Turner was a predictable no.

After wearing No. 10 during his career-altering nine-year run with L.A., Turner got to Boston as a free agent in January knowing that number was already owned by Trevor Story.

Which brought Turner back to No 2. Though Xander Bogaerts, Boston’s popular team leader for nearly a decade, had worn that number for the Red Sox the past nine seasons, it was made available for Turner.

Turner quickly learned on social media how protective Red Sox fans can be of their former stars once he took the number, but that didn’t change his mind.

An accomplished veteran in his own right, Turner will wear a number that has meant a lot to him during his career and his life. He is the 41st player in Red Sox history to have No. 2 on his back.

“I didn't really have a lot of options. They asked me if I'd be OK with wearing No. 2,” said Turner. “I know obviously, there's some history there with Bogey and [Jerry] Remy, and I've read a little bit on social media and some of the stuff that comes up about the No. 2, but I have worn No. 2 my entire life.

“The only reason I didn't wear No. 2 with the Dodgers is because Tommy Lasorda said no when I asked him if I could, which I expected. But yeah, I'm excited to be back in No. 2.”

Why does he like the number so much?

“I think I was born at 2:22 in the morning,” Turner said. “My dad was always No. 2. My cousin was always No. 2. I've worn No. 2 since I was 4 years old. My freshman year in college, I wore 23 because an older player had No. 2 and then I switched back to No. 2. And I've literally worn No. 2 pretty much every day my whole life.”

Long-time followers of Turner are well aware of what his favorite number is.

“So yeah, my [Twitter] handle is @redturn2 because of No. 2, not because I'm a master double-play turner,” said Turner.

While Bogaerts is the most accomplished player to wear No. 2 for Boston, the late Remy matches the former shortstop in popularity.

The pride of Somerset, Mass., Remy played for his hometown Sox from 1978-84 but reached iconic status as a broadcaster for NESN from 1988-2021, the year he died following another bout with cancer.

“I'm excited to hopefully make Remy proud of what I do and what I accomplish,” Turner said. “And I know a lot of guys have worn No. 2 before me, and it is a big deal. I don't take it lightly. And I want to make him proud, just like I had the same conversation with Ron Cey, when I got over to the Dodgers, and they put me in 10, which I didn't choose. They gave it to me as well. And I wanted to go out there and make Ron proud every day.”

Of course, Turner will make Red Sox fans most proud if he can put up good numbers at the plate. He is poised to serve as the team’s primary DH and play some first base against lefty starters.

“I took batting practice on the replica Fenway field [in Fort Myers] the other day and it was pretty exciting to mishit some balls and have them go off the wall up there,” said Turner. “I don’t think it’s something in my mind. I want to take my approach the same and wherever the ball goes, the ball goes. I do like to pull the ball, so hopefully that will benefit me.”

While the Red Sox are likely to benefit from Turner’s leadership, he said he isn’t going to force that on his new teammates.

“I think leadership isn’t something that’s passed to someone, I think it’s earned,” said Turner. “Obviously I’m a new guy in here and I’m going to have to earn a lot of people’s respect and that’s OK by me. I’d like to think I’m a baseball guy and hopefully over the course of time, I’ll earn everyone’s respect.”