The most impressive World Series moment on Friday night may have come from MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac when he predicted Toronto Blue Jays utilityman Addison Barger would play a significant role in Game 1 before the first pitch was thrown.
Plesac said during pregame coverage that Barger, who was not in the starting lineup, would come off the bench at some point and “run into” a pitch that would send the Rogers Centre into a frenzy.
A few hours later, Barger became the first player in World Series history to have a pinch-hit grand slam when he drilled a slider from Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Anthony Banda in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Blue Jays a 9-2 lead.
Barger has split time between third base and right field throughout the regular season and playoffs. He has only played two full games in this postseason, though he does have 11 appearances in 12 team games.
With the Dodgers starting lefty Blake Snell in Game 1, the left-handed hitting Barger began the game on the bench. Myles Straw, a right-handed hitter who is primarily used as a late-inning defensive replacement, got the start.
The game was tied at two going into the bottom of the sixth. The first six Blue Jays reached in the inning to open up a 5-2 lead. After a George Springer grounded into a force out at home, manager John Schneider called on Barger with the bases still loaded.
It wasn’t an obvious moment to use Barger because Banda is a lefty reliever. He only hit .217/.270/.337 with one of his 21 homers during the 2025 season against left-handed pitching.
Barger delivered with the biggest swing of his career up to this point to turn a competitive game into a blowout.
The 25-year-old was originally a sixth-round pick in the 2018 draft and spent five full seasons in the minors before getting called up for the first time in April 2024.
He didn’t make much of an impression in his first run at the MLB level, posting a .197/.250/.351 slash line in 69 games as a rookie.
This season was a big leap forward by Barger with a .243/.301/.454 slash line. He has been terrific in the playoffs, hitting .324/.405/.622 with three homers in 42 plate appearances.
Credit to Pleasac, as well, for not going with the obvious player as a potential difference-maker. Anyone can pick Shohei Ohtani or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to lead their team to victory. It takes a special prediction to bet on a someone not starting to be the key to a win.