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Strange sleeping conditions didn’t stop Addison Barger from etching his name into Toronto Blue Jays history Friday night.
Barger was not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of the World Series, the first for the Blue Jays since 1993. He probably won’t say so publicly, but maybe it was a blessing in disguise.
That’s because he actually spent the night before rooming with teammate David Schneider at the hotel inside the Rogers Center and sleeping on a pullout couch, according to ESPN.
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Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Addison Barger celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a sixth-inning grand slam during Game 1 of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Centre. (Kevin Sousa/Imagn Images)
Schneider joked to reporters after the win that the retreat “creaked all night,” and Barger was barred from sleeping with Schneider and his girlfriend in their bed.
“He’s a head holster, but he’s funny,” Schneider said. “They set up a place, but I was like, for a couple of days, I’m not paying for a hotel room,” Barger told ESPN. “I know it sounds crazy, but I’m just trying to save money.”
Despite the seemingly uncomfortable slumber, he hit a pinch-hit grand slam, the first in World Series history, in the sixth inning to help the Jays to an 11-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Addison Barger hits a grand slam against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning during Game 1 of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Centre. (Dan Hamilton/Imagn Images)
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It was just the cherry on top of a wild week for Barger. The morning after the Jays beat the Seattle Mariners in the American League Championship Series, Barger flew home to see his wife, who had just given birth to the couple’s third child.
He flew back to Toronto, but Barger doesn’t have a full-time position in the city and lacked a place to live. So he lived with Myles Straw before sharing a room with Schneider.
It was the biggest home run by a Blue Jay since, well, Monday night, when George Springer’s three-run homer sent the Blue Jays to the World Series.
Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Addison Barger celebrates with teammates after hitting a grand slam against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning during Game 1 of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Centre. (Dan Hamilton/Imagn Images)
Toronto will look to take a 2-0 series lead Saturday night — this time Barger had his own place to stay with his family.
