As the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2025 season came to a close, the emotions of an extra-innings loss in Game 7 of the World Series weighed heavily on players and fans, alike.
Tear-filled interviews with the media and embraces with longtime teammates were seen in Toronto’s clubhouse on Saturday night as part of an end to what came so close to being a dream season for Toronto.
Tyler Heineman was with the Blue Jays for each and every step of their postseason run, and he joined TSN 1050 First Up host Aaron Korolnek on Wednesday to talk about the team’s immediate reactions following the loss.
“A lot of emotions,” Heineman said. “Just kind of overwhelming joy and a sense of fulfilment, as well.
“It was just such a good group of guys and for us to go all the way there, to be in Game 7 and to be leading going into the ninth inning, it’s just the pinnacle of what you want, want you expect.”
Heineman was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays in September of 2024, bringing him back to the organization for a third time in his 14-year professional career.
The Pacific Palisades, Calif. native won the backup catcher job outright in Spring Training, beating out the likes of Christian Bethancourt and Ali Sanchez to slot in behind Alejandro Kirk on the 26-man roster.
After securing his spot with the big-league team, Heineman broke out with a .289/.361/.416 slash line across 61 games played for the Blue Jays this season, adding three home runs and 20 runs batted in.
The veteran backstop made his World Series debut during the Blue Jays’ 18-inning marathon loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 after Kirk was lifted for a pinch runner in the top of the 12th.
“There’s definitely some highs, and then once we didn’t pull through, some low moments,” he said of Toronto’s playoff run. “But glad to be back home now, get ready for next season because it definitely left a sour tase in our mouths and we want to be back there.”
The Blue Jays headed home for Games 6 & 7 of the World Series up 3-2, and came painfully close to clinching the title in each contest.
Both games ended with Toronto hitting into double plays with a pair of runners on base and a chance to walk off the Dodgers as the Blue Jays were denied in their quest for the franchise’s first championship in 32 years.
Despite the disappointment, Heineman took a moment to recognize the support he and his teammates received throughout their run to the World Series.
“The fans were everything to us,” said Heineman. “It really felt like something started turning in September. The fans were great the entire year, but in September we really kind of started having sell out crowds and it almost felt like a playoff-type of environment from that.
“We’re frustrated for ourselves, for our families, but we’re really frustrated for the fans of Toronto because they deserve a championship, and we thought we were the team to do that for them.
“Ultimately we didn’t achieve our goal but the overwhelming support we’ve had, even after we lost…the fans of Toronto are amazing and probably the main reason why we want to come back next year even better and take another run at this thing.”
The Blue Jays roster is likely to look different by the time pitchers and catchers report in February, with Bo Bichette, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, Seranthony Dominguez, Ty France, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa all in need of new contracts.
It remains to be seen what happens in free agency this winter, but after coming within two outs of a World Series title, it’s hard for things to not feel like a wasted opportunity with the group the Blue Jays had this season.
“I will say, I really think that once we lost, that was the only time in the entire season and throughout the playoffs that we actually were in shock,” Heineman said.
“Up until the final out that was recorded, we believed that we were going to be the team that won.”
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