Dodgers Team News

Dodgers News: Justin Turner Removed from Game After Positive COVID Test

[Editor’s note: This story has been updated]

As the Dodgers were en route to a World Series championship — their first since 1988 — the celebration turned to concern as long-time third baseman Justin Turner was pulled in the 8th inning without explanation.

It was later revealed that he had received a positive COVID-19 test and was immediately isolated. The Fox postgame revealed that he had a negative test on Monday’s off day before the negative test came back today.



More on the timeline, including a correction from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

After the game, Turner tweeted an update.

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.

More from LA Times and Bill Shaikin.

The hope is that it could be a false positive, but there’s a likelihood that it is legitimate. Notably, the club had been isolated and in the MLB postseason bubble for the last 4 weeks.

This storyline will be updated as more information becomes available.

NEXT: A Dave Roberts Redemption Story

Clint Pasillas

Clint Pasillas has been writing, blogging, and podcasting about the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2008. Under Clint's leadership as the Lead Editor, Dodgers Nation has grown into one of the most read baseball sites in the world with millions of unique visitors per month. Find him online on Twitter/X or his YouTube channel!

8 Comments

  1. Hopefully it’s a false positive. My question is, what’s up with Manfred? He was slurring his speech pretty badly during the awards ceremony. Apparently this wasn’t the first time either. Does he have some kind of condition or did he just get the party started before everyone else?

  2. JT will be fine, and can celebrate his championship for many months before next season starts. Re-sign JT. He is a Dodger all time great who is still playing great. Give him a two or three year contract. When he does retire, it should be as Dodger.

  3. Ken Rosenthal just stated: “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.”

    If so, that was careless and risky and JT should not have played at all today.

  4. OK, Ken’s explanation makes a touch more sense.

    Still don’t get why MLB was running tests they couldn’t get results for until the game has started but OK.

  5. All those years and he doesn’t even get to be on the field for the final out. He was already around everyone for days and for the whole game having him leave saved no one

  6. Shame he had to get pulled right at the end. Seems odd that with all the resources that MLB has, that they wouldn’t know about a result until the game was nearly over. Glad he was able to get back on the field for the celebration, but it does seem problematic with all the other players’ families there. Tough situation. Meanwhile, two more years at $15M or three more years at $13M. Shouldn’t take long to draw up that contract.

  7. My prayers and good wishes go out to Justin and family. Maybe he missed the on field celebration, but he was the mortar that held the team together thru-out the year and the post-season. We all know and will remember that from now on. We are so fortunate to have Justin and Clayton and Cory and Mookie and Beli and Max and all….not just good ball players but GOOD MEN!

    Congratulations guys. WELL DONE!

  8. What can I say? Coronavirus does not bypass anyone. Neither money, nor status, anything will save from it. On the one hand, it is even good, because the social inequality that has been eating away at our world for so long will disappear.
    As for the game, the situation is really very annoying. To be honest, I personally had high hopes for Justin. But the main thing is still health. Therefore, Justin, I wish you patience and health to all of us

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