Justin Turner Removed From World Series Game Due To Positive Covid-19 Test

On Tuesday night, the Dodgers achieved the greatest honor in baseball by becoming World Series champions for the first time in thirty-two years. It took six games for Los Angeles to clinch the title.

Game 6 was filled with surprises, even with just six outs remaining before the Dodgers would ultimately be celebrating on the field. When the Dodgers’ defensive players took their positions in the top of the 8th inning in Arlington, one absence was glaringly obvious. Justin Turner, the man with the long, red hair and fiery beard was not standing by third base taking warmups. Instead, Edwin Rios, a utility infielder with just 66 games of Major League experience, took to the hot corner with just six outs separating L.A. from garnering another championship.

Why was Justin Turner, a 7-year veteran of the organization, removed while the team was on the brink of its biggest celebration in decades?

The answer to that question was not revealed until moments after the final out when Kevin Burkhardt reported on FOX that the Dodgers were notified after the 7th inning that Turner’s test for COVID-19 was positive. Due to MLB rules, Turner had to be pulled from the game.

The Dodgers had played 16 consecutive games at the Rangers’ home ballpark in Arlington, Texas. MLB referred to its Postseason operations as a “bubble” in which players would be quarantined at the team hotel and games would be played in one neutral stadium, rather than playing games at each participant’s home stadium. It is unknown how Turner came in contact with the virus.