National League Triumphs in First-Ever All-Star Swing-Off Thriller

The National League emerged victorious over the American League by winning the inaugural All-Star swing-off, capping off a 6–6 deadlock after nine innings. The final result? A dramatic, 4–3 victory in the home‑run derby–style tiebreaker, powered by an unforgettable performance from Kyle Schwarber.

Fast Start: NL Lights Up Early

From the outset, NL starter Paul Skenes set the tone, striking out both Gleyber Torres and Riley Greene with 99–100 mph heaters—the fastest All-Star Game strikeouts recorded since tracking began. Sons of thunder: Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. singled, setting the stage for Ketel Marte, whose double down the line cleared the paths and put NL ahead 2–0.

The barnstorming continued into the sixth: Pete Alonso crushed a three-run shot, instantly turning it into a commanding 5–0 lead. Moments later, Corbin Carroll—marking the first Diamondbacks homer in an All-Star Game—extended the cushion to 6–0.

AL Revives: The Comeback Begins

Trailing by six runs, the American League refused to roll over. The seventh inning sparked a comeback: Brent Rooker, pinch-hitting, launched a majestic three-run home run—fueling the clutch rally. Kansas City’s Maikel García then reached, stole second, and came home on Bobby Witt Jr.’s grounder, narrowing the deficit to 6–4.

The AL kept knocking. In the ninth, Byron Buxton doubled and scored on Witt’s second double. Steven Kwan’s sneaky grounder into left field wrapped up at home plate tied the game at 6–6—ushering in the first-ever swing-off.

Historic First: Swing-Off Decider

In this unprecedented “Home Run Derby–style” tiebreaker, each team chose three hitters with three swings apiece:

American League batsmen:
1. Brent Rooker launched two homers.
2. Randy Arozarena followed with one.
3. Jonathan Aranda struck out in all three swings.
- AL total: 3 homers.
National League sluggers:
1. Kyle Stowers hit one.
2. Kyle Schwarber, entering in the fifth inning and having walked earlier, became the hero—launching three homers on three swings. Pete Alonso was on deck but didn’t need to bat.
- NL total: 4 homers.

When Schwarber’s final swing soared over the wall, the NL bench erupted—clinching the first-ever swing-off and securing a historic 4–3 win.

Schwarber’s Legendary Night

Kyle Schwarber. Pic Credits – Yahoo Sports.

Kyle Schwarber was named MVP—becoming the first Phillies player to earn All-Star MVP honors since Johnny Callison in 1964 . Remarkably, his MVP award stemmed solely from the swing-off—he finished 0-for-2 with a walk during regulation innings, marking the first time a non-pitcher earned MVP without a hit in the main game. MLB’s new tiebreaker format was instantly validated through Schwarber’s heroics.

Memorable Moments Beyond the Homer Derby

Clayton Kershaw, making his final All-Star Game appearance under a “legend pick,” struck out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and got a standing ovation—capturing an emotional if brief encore.
The automated ball-strike (ABS) system was used for the first time in an official MLB regular-season-affiliated game—Tarik Skubal successfully used it to challenge a pitch, earning a strikeout.
A stirring holographic tribute celebrated Hank Aaron’s iconic 715th home run with animations, projector displays, and fireworks at Truist Park (SI).
All-Star stars ditched the exhibition jerseys for authentic home and away uniforms, adding to the nostalgia.

Final Line Score

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Regulation
NL	2	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	6
AL	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	2	6

Then, NL edges AL 4–3 in the swing-off.

Legacy of the 2025 All-Star Game

This All-Star Game will be etched in history. It wasn’t just the first swing-off—it was a perfect storm of stars, innovation, and emotion:

Paul Skenes showed elite velocity.
Kershaw’s farewell added emotional resonance.
The ABS system’s debut signaled a shift in umpiring.
The Hank Aaron tribute tied baseball’s rich lore to its present.
And Schwarber’s swing-off masterpiece, which completed the comeback narrative.

It’s rare for an exhibition game to deliver this much drama, but the 2025 All-Star Game did just that—ushering in a new era of fan engagement, honoring legends, elevating emerging heroes, and delivering pure baseball theatre.