As it turns out, the play at the plate that almost ended the Los Angeles Dodgers’ second straight championship season wasn’t as close as we thought at the time.
As detailed by Ben Walker of the Associated Press, Major League Baseball released an analysis of Isiah Kiner-Falefa being thrown out at home in the bottom of the ninth inning of World Series Game 7.
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The play, in which Miguel Rojas’ throw to catcher Will Smith beat IKF to the plate by apparent inches, was far more definitive, the MLB found, with the runner out by three feet.
The review confirmed that Smith’s foot was still on home plate when he made the initial catch.
“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,” said the league’s official report.
Smith said earlier this month that he didn’t feel at the time how close he was to appearing to come off home plate.
“I never felt my foot come off,” Smith said. “I didn’t really realize it (was close) until I saw the replay, so I wasn’t trying to go back and touch it.”
Nov 1, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa (7) is out against Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) in the ninth inning during game seven of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
What if Isiah Kiner-Falefa Was Safe?
If IKF had beaten the throw, then the Blue Jays would have won the World Series right there.
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Rojas’ homer in the top of the inning would be an interesting footnote to the game, and Smith never would’ve gotten to hit his 11th-inning home run.
Additionally, the Dodgers wouldn’t be chasing a third straight championship in 2026, and the talk of a Dodgers dynasty would carry a lot less weight.
Will This Change How the 2025 World Series is Remembered?
For Blue Jays players and fans, it’s unlikely this takes all the sting out of the loss.
Even without this play, there are still home runs in the ninth and 11th innings that likely bring up painful memories.
At least with this, though, the Jays know for sure they didn’t lose on a bad call by the umpire.
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Jays manager John Schneider said he’d been rewatching that moment and “how close it was.”
“I’ve seen that video 3,000 times and 1,500 of them it looks like Will is off the plate. You know what I mean?” Schneider said. “And the other half it looks like he’s on.”
For Smith, though, this doesn’t change much.
“I just cared that he was out,” Smith said.