Aaron Boone knew the stakes were high heading into the MLB All-Star Game—so high, in fact, that he had prepared for a historical moment he hoped would remain theoretical. The manager of the American League team had outlined his strategy for a possible swing-off, but like many, he probably didn’t think he’d actually have to implement it.
As it turned out, the National League’s thrilling 7-6 victory at Truist Park didn’t just deliver a nail-biter; it also marked the first usage of the tiebreaker in the event’s 95-year history.
When the dust settled, the NL trio, featuring Kyle Stowers, Kyle Schwarber, and Pete Alonso, outdueling the AL’s Brent Rooker, Randy Arozarena, and Jonathan Aranda—4-3 in the swing-off format that had the fans buzzing.
“It was awesome,” Schwarber, who earned MVP honors for his heroics in the swing-off, shared. You could hear the excitement in his voice. “The guys were really into it. They were yelling, screaming, cheering me on every swing. When that last one goes over, they were all pumped. It was a lot of fun.”
This inaugural swing-off, designed to break tie games in a Home Run Derby style, unfolded seamlessly. Each participant took three swings, alternating between the American and National leagues. Rooker kicked things off with a solid two homers, while Stowers answered back with one of his own. After Arozarena boosted the AL to a 3-1 lead, Schwarber stole the moment by connecting for three home runs on his three swings, sealing victory for the NL. Aranda’s turn, unfortunately, didn’t add any homers, allowing the NL to clinch without Alonso needing to take the plate.
Alonso, the reigning power hitter, found himself in an interesting spot, likening the experience to a closer waiting to get the call. “I got super ready,” he noted. “I was ready for it, but I’m glad Schwarbs did it. We did it the easy way.”
While some of the star players had left the stadium before the tiebreaker unfolded, there was a bit of room for debate about how much sweeter the moment could have been with more of baseball’s biggest names in the mix.
Stowers found himself in the spotlight late in the game after Eugenio Suárez, originally slated to be a part of the NL team, had to exit due to a hand injury—an untimely development, but luckily, X-rays showed no major damage.
In the aftermath of this exciting new twist, both Boone and NL manager Dave Roberts shared their thoughts on whether this swing-off format might make its way into regular season play.
“I think it was great for this exhibition,” Roberts commented, while also expressing no issues with the traditional rules during regular games, such as having a runner start on second base. Boone echoed that sentiment, saying, “There’s probably a world where you could see that in the future… I wouldn’t be surprised if people start talking about it like that. Obviously, I don’t think that should happen necessarily, or would any time in the near future, but it was pretty exciting.”
The game itself provided plenty of fireworks before the swing-off, with the NL exploding out to a commanding 6-0 lead. Alonso’s impressive three-run homer off Kris Bucic in the sixth inning added to the drama, making him the third Met to ever homer during an All-Star Game. “That beats any Derby win,” Alonso commented, contrasting the significance of this All-Star moment with his previous Home Run Derby victories in 2019 and 2021. “That’s really special for me.”
The AL didn’t go quietly into the night, though. They clawed back with four runs in the seventh and two in the ninth, which set the stage for a dramatic finish. Jazz Chisholm Jr., representing the Yankees, put the pressure on the NL with a shot down the first-base line, only to be denied by a spectacular sliding catch from Matt Olson. While that marked the second out of the ninth, it allowed Bobby Witt Jr. to advance to third base, leading to his score on an infield single by Steven Kwan, which ultimately paved the way for the swing-off.
Edwin Diaz was brought in for the NL to close things out and inherited Witt as a baserunner, but his outing was far from ideal, as he finished with one hit allowed, one strikeout, no earned runs over two-thirds of an inning, and a blown save along the way. Meanwhile, Chisholm finished the night without a hit in a tough outing.
Aaron Judge and Francisco Lindor both began the game but went a combined 0-for-4, while pitchers Carlos Rodón and David Peterson kept the game in check with scoreless innings of their own.
“You kind of feel like you’re floating out there,” Judge remarked about being in that electric All-Star environment. “You feel the crowd. You feel the energy. The music’s bumping… That feeling never gets old.”
The All-Star Game brought forth a plethora of memorable moments, reminding fans why this event is a highlight of the baseball calendar year. And as the swing-off leaves its mark on baseball history, it’s clear the game continues to evolve in exciting new ways.
