For Toronto Blue Jays fans, the final moments of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series have already become one of the most painful memories in franchise history.
Now, a new review of the decisive play may make that heartbreak even worse.
What originally looked like a razor-thin call at home plate has been reexamined, and the updated findings suggest the play wasn’t nearly as close as many believed.
The moment that defined the series
The scene was set for a dramatic finish.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, the score was tied 4–4 between the Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Toronto had the bases loaded with one out, needing just one run to capture its first World Series title since 1993.
Then Daulton Varsho hit a ground ball toward second base.
Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas briefly bobbled the ball before recovering and firing a throw home. The pass reached catcher Will Smith, who applied the tag on pinch runner Isiah Kiner-Falefa (IKF) attempting to score from third.
The call on the field: out at home plate.
Instead of a championship celebration, the Blue Jays were forced to continue the inning — and eventually the game — as the Dodgers survived the scare.
A closer look changes the narrative
At the time, many believed the play was incredibly close — possibly decided by just inches.
However, a recent official review by MLB has revealed a different conclusion.
According to a report provided to the Associated Press, replay officials determined:
“After reviewing all relevant angles, the replay official definitively determined the catcher’s foot was touching the plate when the ball contacted the interior of his mitt.”
The clarification means that even though Smith’s foot briefly appeared to lift from the plate during the play, it didn’t affect the call.
More strikingly, the review suggests Kiner-Falefa was actually out by several feet, not just inches.
A painful realization for Toronto fans
For Blue Jays fans, the updated information doesn’t change the outcome — but it does add another layer of frustration.
What once felt like a heartbreaking near-miss now appears to have been a clearer out than initially believed.
The revelation reinforces what some critics argued immediately after the play: IKF may not have had a large enough lead at third base before the pitch.
Coaching decisions come under scrutiny
Former Blue Jays coach Don Mattingly addressed the play during the offseason, suggesting that the coaching staff shared responsibility.
According to Mattingly, the team may have been overly cautious about Kiner-Falefa being picked off, preventing him from taking a more aggressive lead.
Meanwhile, Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy wasn’t positioned particularly close to the bag during Varsho’s at-bat — meaning there may have been room for IKF to extend his lead safely.
Mattingly also noted that the likelihood of a double play on a line drive was relatively low, especially considering Varsho’s typical contact patterns that season.
A moment that will linger
Regardless of the debate, the outcome remains the same.
The Blue Jays ultimately fell short of the championship, and the play at home plate will forever stand as one of the most painful “what-if” moments in franchise history.
Whether it was decided by inches or several feet, Toronto came agonizingly close to ending a 30-year title drought.
Until the Blue Jays finally win another World Series, that ninth-inning play may continue to haunt both the team — and its fans.
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