While yesterday’s article was mostly about the hollowing out of All-Star rosters, the surreal conclusion to the 2025 Midsummer Classic offers a perfect case study in the league’s modern dilemmas. The scene at Truist Park was electric after the American League capped a stunning comeback to tie the game at 6-6. As fans braced for extra innings, a grounds crew member placed an L-screen near home plate. The 2025 swing-off was a thrilling, chaotic spectacle that perfectly encapsulates the struggle between baseball’s traditions and its search for new audiences. While some around the league and fans see it as a step toward merging the Home Run Derby with the All-Star Game, that vision is almost certainly a fantasy.
To understand the swing-off, one must go back to 2002 in Milwaukee. The All-Star Game was a classic until the 11th inning, when managers Joe Torre and Bob Brenly realized they had used every pitcher on their rosters. The game couldn’t continue. Commissioner Bud Selig, in his home city, was forced to declare a 7-7 tie, resulting in a chorus of boos from the crowd and media labeling it a debacle. The league’s reaction was the infamous “This Time It Counts” rule, awarding World Series home-field advantage to the winner. After that was scrapped, the league still needed a way to avoid another tie without overtaxing pitchers in an exhibition game. The solution, negotiated in the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement, was the home run swing-off—a risk-management tool disguised as entertainment, born from the ghost of Milwaukee.
As the ninth inning of the game concluded on Tuesday, the impromptu derby began: three batters per league, three swings each. The A’s Brent Rooker, controversially eliminated from the previous night’s Home Run Derby, started with two homers for the AL. After Kyle Stowers answered with one for the NL, Randy Arozarena added another, making it 3-1 AL. Then, Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber launched three consecutive home runs, the last while dropping to one knee, to give the NL a stunning 4-3 lead. The AL’s final batter failed to answer. Then Schwarber, who was 0-for-2 in the game, was named MVP.
The reaction was passionate and divided. Players loved the “wiffle-ball in the back yard” feel for an exhibition, but managers Aaron Boone and Dave Roberts were clear they wouldn’t want it in the regular season. Fans sharing opinions online were split between praising the “must-see TV” and purists decrying the “circus” that devalued the actual game. This highlights the central tension in modern sports: the clash between “the game” and “the product.” The swing-off pleased those who value pure entertainment while alienating those who value tradition.
A glaring question emerged: Where were the game’s biggest stars? Premier power hitters like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani were nowhere to be found. The answer lies in the All-Star Game’s logistics. Starters typically play only a few innings before being substituted, and many leave the ballpark early to get a head start on their mid-season break. Compounding this, managers had to submit their swing-off lists the day before. AL Manager Aaron Boone explained he chose reserves because he needed players he could guarantee would still be available late in the game. This creates a “Star Power Paradox“: the event designed for a power showcase is structured in a way that makes the biggest stars the least likely to participate.
Here’s the thing, folks: With the All-Star Game now featuring its own mini-derby, some have theorized that the next step is to merge the two events into one day. However, this vision is a logistical and financial fantasy.
First, there’s the broadcast rights barrier, with the Home Run Derby on ESPN and the All-Star Game on FOX. A merger would require an unprecedented collaboration between rivals. Second, the economics of All-Star Week depend on a multi-day schedule with distinct revenue streams. Finally, there is no guarantee that any given All-Star game will even go into extra innings, making the idea of replacing the guaranteed spectacle of the Home Run Derby with a contingent swing-off a non-starter for the league.
With that… The 2025 Swing-Off was the ultimate paradox: a resounding success as viral entertainment, yet a failure at showcasing the sport’s biggest stars. It will almost certainly remain a permanent fixture in the All-Star festivities, as it effectively solves the 2002 tie problem with a quick, TV-friendly conclusion. It will exist as a rare, chaotic contingency plan. However, the dream of a single-day, integrated All-Star spectacle is a myth due to financial and logistical barriers.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!