MLB says Turner violated protocols when he returned to field

Texas (AP) — Justin Turner vio lated coronavirus protocols when he celebrated with his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates and he refused instructions from security to leave the field, behavior that Major League Baseball said risked the safety of others.

The commissioner’s office Wednesday. “Turner was said Wednesday it is placed into isolation for starting a full investigation the safety of those around of the 35-year-old third him. However, following baseman. the Dodgers’victory, it is

The Dodgers won their clear that Turner chose to first World Series championship disregard the agreed-upon since 1988 with a joint protocols and the instructions 3-1 victory over Tampa Bay he was given regarding in Game 6 on Tuesday the safety and protection night at Globe Life Field. of others.

Turner was pulled from “While a desire to celebrate the game following the is understandable, seventh inning after MLB Turner’s decision to leave was notified that he had isolation and enter the field tested positive for COVID19. was wrong and put everyone He was quarantined in he came in contact a doctor’s office off to the with at risk. When MLB side, Dodgers president of Security raised the matter baseball operations Andrew of being on the field with Friedman said. Turner, he emphatically

Turner later returned to refused to comply.” the field with a mask to Turner became a free celebrate the Dodgers’title. agent when his $64 million, He then took down his four-year contract expired following mask and posed for a team the victory. photo on the field. Turner’s agent, Greg

“Immediately upon receiving Genske, did not immediately notice from the respond to a text from laboratory of a positive The Associated Press seeking test, protocols were triggered, comment. leading to the removal “Last night, nasal swabs of Justin Turner were conducted on the from last night’s game,” Dodgers’traveling party,” MLB said in a statement MLB said. “Both the Rays and Dodgers were tested again today and their travel back to their home cities will be determined after being approved by the appropriate authorities.”

Both teams were travelling home from the Dallas area on Wednesday in coordination with their local health authorities, a person familiar with the arrangements said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made.

No additional players received positive results from rapid PCR tests early Wednesday, the person said, but the wife of one Rays player tested positive, the person said.

The wife and the player did not travel with the team and were to travel on their own, the person said.

A private plane was being arranged for Turner’s travel, the person said.

The commissioner’s office said it will consult with the players’association as part of its investigation. The union was in the process of gathering facts on the events.

Turner hit .307 with four homers and 23 RBIs in the pandemic-shortened season and .293 (17 for 58) with three homers and six RBIs in the postseason, including .320 with a pair of solo homers in the World Series.

“Having a mask on and staying socially distanced, he wanted to come out and take a picture with the trophy, which can’t state strongly enough how big of a role he’s played in the success of this organization,” Friedman said.

“But I think for him, just being a free agent, not knowing exactly how the future is going to play out, I don’t think there was anyone that was going to stop him from going out,” he said. “I think from at least my perspective and not watching it super closely with everything going on, but I think he was mindful of other people, especially other people that he hadn’t already been in contact with. This is something that we’re going to wrap our arms around tonight and in the morning and figure out where we’re going from here.”

Turner, however, was visible on the field without a mask during the celebration. And Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was nearby, also not wearing a mask.

“I haven’t seen the pictures,”Friedman said. “If there are people around them without masks, that’s not good optics at all. I haven’t seen them, so it’s hard for me to speak to it speci f i cal l y.”

“But I think from our standpoint, I think the people who were around him were people that would be in the contact tracing web, anyway, with just how closely a lot of us have been around each other,” he sai d.

ARLINGTON,