Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Justin Turner went out to share the World Series celebration with his Dodgers teammates. Well, let’s hope that’s all he shared.
The third-base star was pulled in the eighth inning Tuesday after a COVID test of his came back positive, and his club pulled out Game 6 and the World Series itself an inning later. For some reason — Were there rapid tests? Was this terribly reckless? — he then returned to the festivities, seen hugging his teammates with and without a mask.
He sat alongside manager Dave Roberts, himself a cancer survivor, without a mask for the team picture. A year and season that have been so bizarre were ending on the same note.
On the TV broadcast, Roberts said he didn’t know why Turner was with the team, but noted he didn’t touch him.
“Thanks to everyone reaching out!” Turner wrote on Twitter before he returned to the field. “I feel great, no symptoms at all. Just experienced every emotion you can possibly imagine. Can’t believe I couldn’t be out there to celebrate with my guys! So proud of this team & unbelievably happy for the City of LA #WorldSeriesChamps.”
Justin Turner returns to the field for the team picture. pic.twitter.com/NmXBbU7Mo7
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 28, 2020
The reported timeline of the positive test involved the lab alerting MLB that his test was inconclusive in the second inning. The lab then ran the samples again, and the sample from Tuesday came back positive. Turner was pulled, and surely Major League Baseball was hoping for a Dodgers victory. What would’ve happened if a Game 7 were needed, but both teams needed to quarantine?
“Congratulations to the LA Dodgers on winning the World Series,” the MLB Players Association tweeted. “We’re obviously concerned with respect to the report of a positive test and we will work with Players, their families and the league to see that all precautionary health and safety protocols are followed.”
