SEATTLE — Within a couple hours of re-joining the Blue Jays this summer, Isiah Kiner-Falefa was already talking about being the best bench player possible.
A veteran of eight major-league seasons, Kiner-Falefa has typically been a big-league regular — and a productive one at that — but the first-place Blue Jays team that had just claimed him on waivers needed him to be a backup. It’s a challenge he embraced from the start, offering to ride the bench for days, play the outfield or even catch — whatever the team needed.
Week by week, as he got used to the role, Kiner-Falefa realized the best way to be mentally prepared for an unexpected challenge was simply to stay locked in whenever he’s at the field. That way no ask would come as a complete surprise and he could respond to whatever the Blue Jays presented.
“Yeah, because usually if I’m in the game it’s the biggest spot,” he said. “Ninth-inning defence, close game. So if I’m not locked in I’m doing the team a disservice. So try to be almost extra locked in, knowing that if I do come in the game it’s going to be very crucial spot. It’s almost more nerve-wracking to come in late in the game, but just being ready from the beginning, just in case someone was to get injured.”
Thursday afternoon at T-Mobile Park, that exact scenario unfolded when Anthony Santander’s back flared up and Kiner-Falefa was thrust into the starting lineup a few hours before first pitch.
“Just so happened that they called my name,” said Kiner-Falefa. “For me nothing changes.”
Thankfully for the Blue Jays, their super-utility player was ready. Facing the right-handed Luis Castillo, Kiner-Falefa was in for a challenge, but he still found a way to collect two hits, score two runs and provide a sacrifice bunt on the way to an 8-2 Blue Jays win, helping Toronto tie the ALCS 2-2.
And while Kiner-Falefa was far from the only contributor at the plate, his efforts were emblematic of a Blue Jays offence that has made a habit of getting major contributions from so-called depth players this season. Because that trend has continued into the playoffs, the Blue Jays are now assured of returning home to Toronto — and just two wins away from their third-ever World Series appearance.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his fifth home run of the playoffs, setting a new franchise record for homers in a single post-season, No. 9 hitter Andrés Giménez added a homer of his own on the way to a four-RBI day and Ernie Clement’s incredible October continued with two more hits.
But of all the contributors, it was perhaps Kiner-Falefa who was least likely.
“It’s just us,” said manager John Schneider. “It’s just trusting Izzy to be ready and play, and he responded. I’m really happy for him.”
In the third inning with the Blue Jays trailing by one, Kiner-Falefa stepped in to face Castillo, a pitcher against whom he’d had some success. With five hits in 13 lifetime at-bats against Castillo, the utility player had an idea of what to expect, and when Castillo left a slider over the plate he pulled a ground ball down the left field line for a double.
“I’ve had a lot of years in this league and had a lot of at-bats off him,” said Kiner-Falefa. “Just watched how he attacks all the big boys. And if he attacks those guys that way they’re probably going to attack me the same way.”
Moments later, Gimenez homered and the Blue Jays were in the lead.
“I’m really happy for (Gimenez), who has grinded all year,” Schneider said. “All of a sudden you get a lot of recognition when you’re in the post-season, and he’s having phenomenal at-bats.”
After a bat-around three-run inning, Kiner-Falefa led off again, this time against lefty Gabe Speier. Here he worked a tough at-bat, fouling off four two-strike pitches before hitting a flare into right field for a single. Two batters later, he scored on a George Springer double.
“We’re a complete team up and down the lineup,” said Max Scherzer, whose 5.2 innings of one-run ball were equally essential to the win.
But as well as Thursday’s game went, no one in the Blue Jays’ front office would have drawn it up this way. Kiner-Falefa might not be on the roster if Bo Bichette were healthy and he wouldn’t have been starting if Santander could play.
Of course, the same could have been said for Myles Straw, when he covered for Daulton Varsho early in the season, or Nathan Lukes and Addison Barger, two players who filled in for Santander. The same applies to Clement, the super-utility player many describe as a team leader, or Eric Lauer, who emerged from nowhere to keep the rotation rolling.
Thanks to that group, this team’s floor is higher than it’s been in years, allowing for Santander to have what’s essentially a lost season in the first year of a $92.5 million deal. The front office deserves credit for assembling this group and it’s ultimately the players who are performing.
“It’s kind of just what we do,” said Schneider.
As the year unfolded, this roster responded well whenever its depth was tested. With the season on the line, it’s happening again. And if Tyler Heineman, Joey Loperfido or Davis Schneider authors one of the biggest moments of the season, no one will be surprised.
“We dealt with adversity all year,” Kiner-Falefa said. “We were able to come up big here. Hopefully we can keep going.”
