On Saturday night, baseball fans were treated to one of the most incredible World Series games ever played. Game 7 between the Dodgers and Blue Jays was an instant classic in every way possible. The final act saw Miguel Rojas hit a game tying home run in the ninth inning off Jeff Hoffman, before Dodgers catcher Will Smith hit the eventual go-ahead bomb in the 11th inning. What is wild is that it may have never happened without an unlikely assist from the Atlanta Braves.
However, none of these unforgettable moments would have been possible without...Alex Anthopoulos? Yes, somehow the Braves GM played an unknowingly vital part of creating what many fans are calling the best baseball game ever played. Long before Hoffman surrendered the game-tying home run in Game 7, Anthopoulos backed out of a deal with Hoffman because of concerns over the RHP's medicals.
— harsha (armchairalex.substack.com) (@harshasridhar12) November 2, 2025
Jeff Hoffman's failed physical with the Braves began unreal chain of events
All the way back in January of this year, reports came out that the Braves backed out of a multi-year deal with Hoffman because of concerns with his medicals. Hoffman saw another deal with the Orioles fall through because of their worries with his shoulder. All of this ultimately led to Hoffman signing with the Blue Jays on a three-year $33 million deal.
Hoffman began the year in top form, pitching to the tune of a 1.17 ERA across his first 13 games. Unfortunately for Hoffman, the month of May was such a struggle that he nearly lost his job as the team's closer, and it really attributed to Toronto's early struggles. But much to Hoffman's (and Toronto's credit), he rebounded and for the remainder of the 2025 season, he earned the last laugh.
However, as most fans know by now Hoffman was on the wrong end of baseball history on Saturday night. With the Blue Jays just two outs away from their third World Series, Hoffman surrendered a crushing home run to Miguel Rojas which help spark the Dodgers eventual completed comeback.
Hoffman was solid for much of Toronto's magical postseason run, but when the team needed him most he couldn't quite close it out. Perhaps the same shoulder concerns that gave Anthopoulos hesitancy in signing Hoffman is what doomed the Jays right-hander from finishing the season postseason strong. No one will ever know just how healthy Hoffman was in 2025, and how he will continue to perform over the remainder of his contract with Toronto. Regardless, we do know that none of the memorable World Series moments (or perhaps even the Toronto/Los Angeles matchup in general) would have happened without the Braves' failed signing of Jeff Hoffman.