Dodgers Justin Turner Celebrates World Series on the field with Covid

Dodgers Justin Turner celebrates World Series win on the field with his teammates after testing postive for covid. Turner was told by MLB staff that he could not go on the field but he did it anyway. Justin Turner violated coronavirus protocols when he celebrated on the field 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 said Wednesday that it was starting a full investigation of the 35-year-old third baseman.

The Dodgers won their first World Series championship since 1988 with a 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 on Tuesday at Globe Life Field.

Turner was pulled from the game following the seventh inning after MLB was notified that he had tested positive for COVID-19. He was quarantined in a doctor's office, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said.

Turner later returned to the field wearing a mask to celebrate the Dodgers' title. He then took down his mask and posed for a team photo on the field.

"Immediately upon receiving notice from the laboratory of a positive test, protocols were triggered, leading to the removal of Justin Turner from last night's game," MLB said in a statement Wednesday. "Turner was placed into isolation for the safety of those around him. However, following the Dodgers' victory, it is clear that Turner chose to disregard the agreed-upon joint protocols and the instructions he was given regarding the safety and protection of others. While a desire to celebrate is understandable, Turner's decision to leave isolation and enter the field was wrong and put everyone he came in contact with at risk. When MLB Security raised the matter of being on the field with Turner, he emphatically refused to comply."

Turner is subject to discipline under an agreement between MLB and the players' association on health and safety protocol. There is nothing specified in the agreement about the range of penalties. The commissioner's office said it would consult with the players' association as part of its investigation. The union was in the process of gathering facts on the events.

Although sources told ESPN's Buster Olney that Turner could face a suspension, there was no precedent for one. Sources told Olney that MLB planned to investigate whether any Dodgers officials or personnel helped facilitate Turner's return to the field

Turner became a free agent when his $64 million, four-year contract expired following the victory.

Turner's agent, Greg Genske, did not immediately respond to a text from The Associated Press seeking comment.

On Wednesday, both teams were cleared and flew home after negative test results. Turner and his wife remained in Arlington after his wife tested negative, a source told ESPN's Jesse Rogers. In addition, the wife of an unnamed Rays player tested positive Wednesday, and she and her contacts remained in Arlington, the source said. The player tested negative and flew back with the team.

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 I can't state strongly enough how big of a role he's played in the success of this organization," Friedman said after Tuesday's game.

"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. 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 was visible on the field without a mask during the celebration. 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 specifically.