The 2025 All-Star game gave the spectators a plot twist no one saw coming in their grandest baseball dreams—the swing-off. The National League rose as champions despite giving up their six-run lead across the last three innings. Thanks to the impromptu mini home run derby that had the last say, and Kyle Schwarber, who made the most of it. And you know the architect behind this spectacle? Dave Roberts.
Let’s go back to the All-Star night: Schwarber hit home runs on all three swings and was lauded league-wide after his game-winning performance. Following the National League’s 7-6 win on Tuesday night, all the players, analysts, and fans are raving about the new tiebreaker format. After all, the history of the regular season or the ASG has never witnessed anything like this. Managers had to select three players on the spot to compete in the ultimate decision maker—the swing-off. Those selected players received three swings to hit as many home runs as they could.
So naturally, the team that sent more out of the park in those nine attempts comes out on top. In the wake of this brand-new format, Roberts was asked if he would like this to be implemented in the regular season. “Oh, no. I think that it was great for this exhibition. Um, but in the regular season, I don’t mind how it plays out in the regular season with the man on second base… The first time in history we’ve got to do this, and I think it played pretty well tonight,” Roberts told the reporters.
Credits: IMAGO
As a traditionalist, Roberts had a grounded take on the swing-off. He’s more inclined to the usual extra innings rule. Right now, the future of this new tiebreaker in regular games has sparked debate throughout the league. The opinions are divided as of now.
Speaking on behalf of the players, Schwarber appeared all-in for baseball’s new way to settle a tie. “It was awesome. The guys were really into it… When that last one goes over, they were all pumped. It was a lot of fun,” he said about the swing-off. Echoing similar emotions, Brent Rooker, as well, described the experience as “electric.”
For years, baseball fans expected All-Star Games deadlocked after nine innings to move into extra innings. But this year, with a jolt almost as loud as the crack of a well-timed home run, everything changed. But did it occur to you why the greatest hitters of our league were left out of this tiebreaker format? You wouldn’t want to miss out on the reasoning.
Were the All-Star swing-off lineups already decided?
So, here’s the thing: this new format did bring a fun twist to the 95th Midsummer Classic. No doubts there. All six who faced off were incredible, and in the end, Schwarber earned the well-deserved MVP honors.
However, fans were a little shocked witnessing the field for the tiebreaker. Why were Aaron Judge (35 HRs), Shohei Ohtani (32 HRs), and other big names left out? These two, in particular, are among the league leaders in their home runs. Yet, Ohtani, along with other players, had left early. According to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, they took an early flight back home. You may have noticed many names left out of the swing-off contest. Skipper Roberts revealed that Ohtani was “long gone.”
For the ones who didn’t stick around, Roberts has an indirect reason. “We went around and sort of polled the guys and figured out who was going to be in the back half of the game, kind of thing like that.” If you think about it from the players’ point of view, it will make sense. If they were scheduled to play only a few innings early in the game, it’s not easy to stick around until hours later. They cannot stay warm and gear up for an exhibition game until the end, and hit home runs.
There are still many questions looming around the format, the players leaving early, and much more. Until we get our answers, share your take on the All-Star Game 2025!
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