What seemed one more night from the mid -season classic became a Historical revolution for MLB. He Star set 2025 ended 6-6 after nine entries, which activated for the first time an unpublished rule: A Swing-Off of home runs to define the winner.
The National League beat the American League 4-3 thanks to Kyle Schwarberwho connected three home runs in his three swings and was crowned MVP of a match that marked a before and after for the baseball.
What is a swing-off in baseball and why was it applied?
He swing-offapproved in the collective agreement of 2022, replaces the traditional extra entrances Only in the star game. Mechanics is simple but intense:
-
Each team chooses Three batters.
-
Each batter has three swings.
-
The team with more home runs at the end of the round, Win.
A kind of penalty batch, but baseball version.
And it worked.
This is how the first swing-off was lived in the history of the MLB
The American League traced a 6-0 to tie at the ninth entrance. Without more available pitchers and with the tension to the limit, the swing-off was activated.
Those chosen by the National League were Pete Alonso, Eugenio Suárez and Kyle Schwarberalthough Suarez had to be replaced by Kyle Stowers After receiving a ball in the piss. For the American League they hit Brent Rooker, Randy Arozarena and Jonathan Aranda.
The drama was absolute:
-
Rooker and Arozarena put the American League up 3-1.
-
Stowers discounted with a lonely home run.
-
And then Schwarber arrived: Three swings, three home runs, and glory.
Pete Alonso did not even need to go to the plate.
Goodbye to the “Ghost Corridor”? This was better than any extra entrance
Since 2020, the MLB introduced the rule of Automatic corridor on the second base To start extra tickets, in order to avoid marathon games. But the change was never everyone’s taste.
Many purists and players consider it An artificial alteration of the game.
What happened in Atlanta raises an alternative:
Real emotion.
Fair and clear format.
High television and digital visibility.
The networks exploded. The All-Star Game rating rose compared to previous years. Schwarber’s image being raised by his teammates shouting “MVP!” He went around the world.
Divided opinions, but most loved him
Even skeptical players like Logan Webb and Robbie Ray They ended up delighted. The veteran manager Brian Snitker He was amazed:
Should it be used in regular season or in playoffs? Not for now. But as an outcome of exhibitions such as the All-Star Game, It is a total success.
A new era for baseball?
The swing-off not only respected the essence of baseball, but He returned show at its maximum expression.
It was like seeing penalties in a World Cup … but with home runs.
And as he said Trevor Megillreliever of the Breweers:
“Who has invented this … well for them.”
Baseball can modernize without losing your soul
The 2025 star game will be remembered as the day that baseball adopted the penalties in their own wayand he did it with style.
If the goal was to avoid eternal games and maintain emotion … Mission fulfilled.
