The Los Angeles Dodgers finally broke through and won their first World Series since 1988, although the immediate celebration after was clouded due to Justin Turner having to be pulled in the seventh inning of Game 6 due to a positive coronavirus (COVID-19) test.
The positive test was the first for a Dodgers player all season, and that’s thanks in part to Turner as he led the way in forming stricter protocols than Major League Baseball’s requirements in order to keep him and his teammates safe and on the field.
Turner originally was not able to celebrate the Dodgers winning the World Series, but after encouragement from teammates, he eventually came back onto the field to take some pictures with his wife Kourtney, the trophy and other players.
That wasn’t received well across the country for obvious reasons, forcing MLB to launch an investigation into Turner’s actions. Turner was ultimately not disciplined and he issued an apology for his actions.
A number of Dodgers players have shown public support for Turner since the World Series ended. Among them was Clayton Kershaw on an appearance on “The Ellen Show” as he expressed remorse that Turner was not able to fully celebrate with his teammates:
“I was in the bullpen, so I didn’t know what was going on until after the game. I think the main thing is we all just feel bad for J.T. He’s been such a mainstay with the Dodgers for six, seven years. He’s worked so hard, he’s been such a key member to our team to win the World Series, so I feel terrible for him. But hopefully he can take solace like the rest of us in the fact that we won the World Series. Hopefully some day we’ll get to all celebrate together soon.”
Turner is now officially a free agent, but there is no doubt that he will have an opportunity to celebrate with his Dodgers teammates once they are all healthy and back together.
Reports indicate that the Dodgers are likely to re-sign Turner this offseason as well, so there is a chance his days with the organization are not over.
Turner expresses excitement to celebrate World Series win
After Turner issued his apology, he announced on a SportsNet LA special that he is feeling healthy and is excited to finally celebrate.
Kershaw and manager Dave Roberts both recently brought up the idea of a joint parade to celebrate the Dodgers’ and L.A. Lakers’ 2020 championships, so hopefully they can coordinate something in the near future to allow the whole city to share in the excitement together in a safe manner.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events and more!
