Justin Turner Gets Diagnosed With COVID-19, Wins World Series, And Celebrates In One Night

Last night was a wild one for Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, who started Game 6 of the World Series, was pulled from Game 6 of the World Series after being diagnosed with COVID-19, saw his team win the World Series, then celebrated maskless with his team after the game.

The news marked a surreal end to the 2020 baseball season, which was shortened due to the pandemic and featured no live fans at games, and the intense scrutiny that followed sullied a memorable championship for the Los Angeles Dodgers, their first since 1988.

Turner was pulled from Game 6 before the 8th inning of the Dodgers' eventual 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays after a test he had taken for COVID-19 came back positive. Turner was the first MLB player to test positive for the illness in a month.

In the second inning tonight, the lab doing COVID tests informed MLB that Justin Turner’s test from yesterday came back inconclusive. The samples from today had just arrived and were run. It showed up positive. The league immediately called the Dodgers and said to pull Turner.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 28, 2020

Putting aside the bewildering set of circumstances that led to a player receiving a positive COVID-19 test while he was playing in a World Series game, onlookers saw a clear failure to follow social distancing protocols in Turner's appearance on the field in the post-game celebration and the Dodgers' implicit endorsement of his actions.

Turner was seen posing maskless with his teammates after the game, smiling and holding the World Series trophy, and kissing his wife after receiving the diagnosis.

Justin Turner returned to the field for the team picture after being removed from Game 6 for testing positive for COVID-19

(via @MLBONFOX)pic.twitter.com/k7XNLy0A0L

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 28, 2020

Here’s an exclusive look at Justin Turner celebrating on the field after testing positive for COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/EvhQqFUw35

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 28, 2020

#Dodgers Mookie Betts was asked about Justin Turner being on field for photos: "He's part of the team. Forget all that. He's part of the team. We're not excluding him from anything."

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) October 28, 2020

Allegedly, at one point security asked Turner to isolate and leave the field, and Turner refused.

"Can't believe I couldn't be out there to clebrate with my teammates!" tweeted Turner, after being out there and celebrating with his teammates.

Thanks to everyone reaching out! 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 (@redturn2) October 28, 2020

Criticism was also turned to MLB, who has been under heavy fire all season for a series of mismanaged incidents of players contracting the illness and playing anyway. Defector published a piece arguing that MLB couldn't suddenly take a person's pinnacle life achievement away from him by suddenly enforcing rules they'd never taken seriously in the first place.