Imagine standing on the precipice of baseball immortality, only to have it slip through your fingers in the most agonizing way possible. That’s exactly where Isiah Kiner-Falefa found himself last October, and now, as he joins the Red Sox, he’s finally breaking his silence on the moment that still haunts him. But here’s where it gets controversial: Was he the scapegoat for a loss that wasn’t entirely his fault?
FORT MYERS, Fla. — As spring training kicked off this week, few players arrived with as much determination for a fresh start as Isiah Kiner-Falefa, the Red Sox’s new utility man. Just months ago, he was at the center of one of baseball’s most gut-wrenching moments. In Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays were on the cusp of glory. Bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, one out—all it took was a single play to bring home Toronto’s first championship since 1993. But fate had other plans.
Daulton Varsho hit a grounder to Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas, whose throw to catcher Will Smith tagged out Kiner-Falefa at the plate. The call was upheld after review, and the Dodgers eventually clinched the title in the 11th inning. While the series was a masterpiece of back-and-forth baseball—including an 18-inning Game 3 that rivaled the Red Sox’s 2018 marathon—fans, media, and even then-Jays bench coach Don Mattingly pointed to that play as the turning point. Yet, Kiner-Falefa’s voice was conspicuously absent from the narrative—until now.
Breaking his silence after signing a one-year deal with Boston, Kiner-Falefa reflected on the long offseason that followed. ‘It was heartbreaking,’ he admitted, his voice tinged with emotion. ‘You can’t get that experience back, but it taught me so much about the highs and lows of this game.’ What frustrated him most, however, wasn’t the play itself—it was the aftermath.
‘The biggest regret was there were no cameras in my face after the game,’ he revealed. ‘If it was going to be such a big deal, I wish I’d had the chance to speak. Instead, it blew up without me getting a proper interview. That felt unfair.’ And this is the part most people miss: Was he unfairly vilified for following team strategy?
In his own words, Kiner-Falefa explained his thought process: ‘I was trying to break up a double play. With a routine groundball to second, I figured they’d go home first, so I slid hard. Ernie Clement was our hottest hitter at the time, and I didn’t want to risk a double play that would take him out of the inning.’ Blue Jays manager John Schneider echoed this, defending Kiner-Falefa at the MLB Winter Meetings: ‘Izzy did what he was told. Will Smith is known for back-picking to third, and we’d prepared for that. I don’t think he could’ve done more.’
Kiner-Falefa agreed, emphasizing it was an organizational decision. ‘We win as a team, we lose as a team,’ he said. ‘There were plenty of chances to win before that play. It wasn’t the sole reason we lost.’ Yet, the narrative stuck, and he found himself at the center of a storm he couldn’t control. To cope, he even reengineered his social media algorithms to avoid constant reminders. ‘My algorithm is pretty good now,’ he joked. ‘No baseball, just blocks and ‘Not Interested.’
Now, as he joins the Red Sox—a team no stranger to heartbreaking losses turned into future triumphs—Kiner-Falefa sees an opportunity to rewrite his story. From Johnny Pesky’s 1946 hold to Bill Buckner’s 1986 error, Boston’s history is littered with moments that sting but ultimately paved the way for greatness. Could Kiner-Falefa’s experience do the same for him?
‘I just want a chance to get back there,’ he said. ‘I’ll never get over it, but I’m focused on how I can return. This is a great opportunity.’
As the Red Sox begin spring training, Kiner-Falefa isn’t the only player making waves. Kristian Campbell will focus on the outfield but will continue infield work with coach José Flores, while newcomers Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seidler are set to compete for infield roles. Meanwhile, pitchers preparing for the World Baseball Classic got a head start with live batting practice.
But the biggest question remains: Was Kiner-Falefa unfairly blamed, or was he just another piece in baseball’s cruel puzzle? Let us know what you think in the comments—this is one debate that’s far from over.
