Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and third baseman Justin Turner pose for a group picture after the Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays . Photo / AP
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and third baseman Justin Turner pose for a group picture after the Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays . Photo / AP
The Los Angeles Dodgers should be the biggest story on social media right now after their World Series clinching win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.
Unfortunately all fans can focus on is the stupidity of the organisation after star player Justin Turner was pulled from the game in the eighth inning after returning a positive COVID test.
Questions were immediately raised as to how Turner was even allowed to play in the game, but it was post-game scenes that left jaws on the floor.
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
Turner was seen holding the trophy before joining his teammates for a team photo, even taking his mask off for the photo.
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Turner was immediately removed from the field and placed into isolation to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
The photos and videos of Turner celebrating with his teammates painted a very different picture.
Fox reporter Ken Rosenthal made the situation even uglier for the league and the Dodgers when he ruled out the positive test being a false positive as some had hoped.
"He tested positive yesterday. They got those positive results back this afternoon. Ran a test today, came back positive again. This is NOT a case of a false positive… he was asked not to go on the field. He insisted upon it, the Dodgers insisted upon it," Rosenthal said.
Justin Turner found out he tested positive for #COVID during the game. He's out on the field with his team celebrating with no mask. pic.twitter.com/SHrDsIlX1d
The photos left fans in complete disbelief that Turner would potentially be putting his teamamtes and family members at further risk after returning a positive test.
ESPN's Sarah Spain wrote: "It's totally brutal and I feel awful for him and the team that this is happening but ... what are we doing here? What are we doing? Turning the World Series into a super spreader event feels NOT IDEAL."
Sportsnet reporter Ben Nicholson-Smith wrote: "Seems unwise, avoidable for Justin Turner to be around so many others hours after testing positive."
Fans watching on and even reporters trying to keep up to date with the process were left baffled as to how this unfolded.
"My mind is blown that this chain of events took place," Boston Celtics reporter Marc D'Amico wrote.
The Star Ledger reporter Brendan Kuty wrote: "Rob Manfred says MLB learned during the game that Justin Turner had tested positive for the coronavirus. How does that happen? How do they let players on the field without knowing the results of the latest tests? MLB has SO much explaining to do. MLB screwed up."
ESPN's Jeff Passan provided some clarity surrounding the testing and the return of Turner's test results along with what will now happen for the Dodgers.
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner celebrates with the trophy after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 to win the baseball World Series. Photo / AP
"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," Passan wrote.
"When the Dodgers return to their hotel tonight, everybody will be given a rapid PCR test. On the field right now, as they celebrate, the Dodgers are wearing masks. Unclear as to whether they'll stay in Dallas area before traveling back to Los Angeles. Situation fluid right now."
Justin Turner was allowed to play with a pending test result, then stayed in the game for five innings after that test came back inconclusive. That is...an incredibly stupid system.
"After the completion of the game tonight, we were informed by major league baseball that Justin Turner received a positive COVID test and that's why he was removed from the game. We have no other details at this time, we'll continue to report on this developing story," Fox Sports' Kevin Burkhardt said.
ESPN's Jeff Pasan confirmed the news of Turner's positive test.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred spoke after the game and didn't provide a great deal of clarity around why he was allowed to play in Game 6.
"We learned during the game that Justin had tested positive, he was immediately isolated to prevent spread," Manfred said.
Unfortunately Turner had spent the first half of the game alongside his teammates in the dugout before he was removed from the game.
Los Angeles Dodgers' Justin Turner flies out against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning of game six. Photo / AP
The rest of the Dodgers team then celebrated the 3-1 win to seal the World Series with their friends and family on the ground.
Turner was quick to let his fans know how he was feeling immediately after the Dodgers had claimed the World Series.
"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," Turner wrote.
