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Blue Jays’ Addison Barger makes history during World Series

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated Oct 24, 2025 11:27 PM ET

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Addison Barger on Friday officially etched his name into World Series history books.

Barger was not in the Blue Jays’ lineup to start Game 1 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. But he made sure to make the loudest impact when he had the chance.

The two teams were tied 2-2 entering the bottom of the sixth inning. The Blue Jays took a 5-2 lead after the first six batters got on base via three singles, two walks, and a hit by pitch. Barger then provided the exclamation point when he was tasked to pinch hit with the bases loaded.

Barger hit a grand slam off Dodgers reliever Anthony Banda to blow the game wide open, extending the Blue Jays’ lead to 9-2. It was the first pinch-hit grand slam in the history of the World Series.

Addison Barger just hit the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history. pic.twitter.com/WUU1u3E7wC
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 25, 2025

The left-handed-hitting Barger initially came in to pinch hit against righty Emmet Sheehan, who was later pulled for the left-handed Banda. Barger hit 21 home runs in the regular season. Only one of them had come against a left-handed pitcher.

Toronto kept going in the bottom of the sixth. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a bloop single that set up Alejandro Kirk’s two-run home run two batters later.