Justin Turner of l. a. Dodgers pulled from World Series after positive COVID-19 test

Los Angeles Dodgers third sacker Justin Turner tested positive for COVID-19 and was pulled from the team’s World Series-clinching 3–1 win in Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed the positive test after the sport , telling Fox: “It’s a bittersweet night for us.”

Turner was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts before beginning of the sport to start out the eighth inning. The team didn’t provides a reason for his exit when he left.

“Thanks to everyone reaching out!” Turner wrote on Twitter after the sport . “I feel good, no symptoms in the least . Just experienced every emotion you’ll possibly imagine. Can’t believe i could not be out there to celebrate with my guys! So happy with this team & unbelievably happy for the city of los angeles #WorldSeriesChamps.”

The veteran infielder wasn’t immediately together with his teammates as they celebrated the franchise’s first World Series title since 1988. But the 35-year-old did return to the sector together with his wife about an hour after the sport and took photos with the planet Series trophy. He got a hug from longtime teammate Clayton Kershaw and sat front and center for a team photo, occasionally lowering a mask he otherwise wore throughout the celebration.

Sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan that within the second inning, the lab doing COVID-19 tests informed big league Baseball that Turner’s test from Monday came back inconclusive. Samples taken from Tuesday then arrived and were run, sources said, and that they showed up positive. The league then immediately called the Dodgers and said to tug Turner.

He was replaced within the field by Edwin Rios.

“We learned during the sport Justin tested positive, and he was immediately isolated to stop spread,’’ Manfred said.

When the Dodgers return to their hotel later Tuesday night, everybody are going to be given a rapid PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, sources told Passan.

A late-blooming slugger who helped reshape the sport by succeeding with an uppercut swing, Turner is L.A.’s career leader with 12 postseason home runs, including a pair during this Series, during which he hit .364 and also played stellar defense.

MLB insulated postseason teams in neutral-site bubbles after traveling them across the country during a shortened 60-game season. Turner was the primary player since the playoffs began to be flagged.

The Dodgers won the Series 4–2.

Information from The Associated Press was utilized in this report.