Arlington, United States
Los Angeles Dodgers star Justin Turner was withdrawn midway through his team’s World Series-clinching victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday after testing positive for Covid-19, Major League Baseball confirmed.
The veteran third baseman exited the Dodgers 3-1 win in Arlington midway through the game after the team were informed of a positive test result, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said.
It was the first positive test to hit Major League Baseball since the league’s pandemic-shortened season relocated to a secure bubble for the playoffs.
‘It’s a bittersweet night for us,’ Manfred said afterwards. ‘We’re glad to be done. I do think it’s a great accomplishment for our players to get this season completed.
‘Obviously we’re concerned when any of our players test positive. We learned during the game that Justin was a positive.
‘He was immediately isolated to prevent spread.’
Turner’s sudden withdrawal meant he was not on the field to celebrate the Dodgers moment of victory, when Julio Urias bagged the final out of the game in the top of the ninth. However he was later seen on the field with his team-mates as they posed for a group photo with the Commissioner’s Trophy.—APP