Dodgers’ Justin Turner left World Series Game 6 with positive COVID-19 test, returns to field for celebration

SportsPulse: The Los Angeles Dodgers are 2020 World Series champions. USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale reflects on the Dodgers finishing off the Rays to win the World Series for the first time since 1988. USA TODAY

Minutes after the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their first World Series title since 1988 on Tuesday night, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said that Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner had tested positive for COVID-19.

During the game, MLB received Turner’s test results from Monday and then ran Tuesday’s sample to verify. The 35-year-old was removed from the game once the league had the result.

Turner was replaced at third base to begin the eighth inning and there had initially been no reason given for his departure.

He was not on the field when the post-game celebrations ensued but later came out to join teammates. Turner lifted the trophy, hugged teammates and posed for photos, but didn’t keep a mask on the entire time.

In his post-game press conference, Dodgers president Andrew Friedman defended Turner partaking in celebrations and claimed the player had taken appropriate precautions.

“He wanted to come out and take a picture with the trophy,” Friedman said. “I can’t overstate what he’s meant to us.

“Him being a free agent, I don’t think anyone was going to stop him from going out. I think he was mindful of other people, especially other people he hadn’t been around.”

Justin Turner holds the World Series trophy on the field.

 (Photo: Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports)

Fox broke the news on the post-game show following the Dodgers’ 3-1 win in Game 6 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas and Turner’s positive test was confirmed by Manfred.

“Obviously we’re concerned when any of our players test positive,” Manfred said. “We learned during the game. He was immediately isolated to prevent spread.”

Contract tracing was set to take place once the Dodgers returned to their hotel, Friedman said. It was immediately unclear when the team would be able to return to California.

“We’re going back tonight (to the hotel), going to take tests and go from there,” Friedman said.

Before Turner went back out on to the field, he tweeted that he felt “great” and had “no symptoms at all.”

MLB had not reported a positive test in 57 days, and there was a soft bubble in place for the World Series.

The league dealt with several outbreaks during the regular season, which shut down the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals for extended periods.

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