Major League Baseball Home Run Swing-Off In MLB Games? What Boone and Roberts Said After All-Star Finish
It’s a long-standing question for MLB fans regarding extra innings in regular season games: Should I stay or should I go? Following the thrilling conclusion of the 2025 All-Star Game on Tuesday, that query might have a quicker answer.
If you missed it, the Midsummer Classic in Atlanta wrapped up with a home run swing-off after the game ended in a 6-6 tie following nine innings – marking the first time this format was ever implemented in a game.
In what resembled a condensed version of the Home Run Derby, Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber’s MVP performance clinched the victory for the National League All-Stars over the American League, resulting in a final score of 7-6 in favor of the NL.
The swing-off became the highlight of the game, leaving players and managers both bewildered and impressed by this lesser-known format, which had been approved in the 2022 collective bargaining agreement. Here’s a quick rundown of how it unfolded:
- Each team selected three players.
- Each player had three swings, facing as many pitches as the pitching coach threw. peso 63 net
- The team that hit the most home runs emerged victorious!
It felt reminiscent of a penalty shootout you’d witness in soccer. This added a fresh twist to the conclusion of an All-Star Game, which has gone into extra innings on eight occasions, most recently in 2018.
“It was awesome,” Schwarber expressed after the game. “The guys really got into it. phdream casino online They were yelling, screaming, and cheering me on with every swing. When that last one cleared the fence, everyone was hyped. It was a ton of fun me777 login app download.”
Following Tuesday’s game, the inevitable question arose: Would you support the idea of incorporating this format into regular season games?
“It’ll be interesting to see where this goes. There might come a time when you see this being mixed into the regular season,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone commented, having led the AL team. “I wouldn’t be shocked if conversations about it come up. slotbeth”
However, Boone hesitated to endorse its implementation in real games anytime soon. “Honestly, I don’t believe that should happen, nor do I expect it to happen in the near future www.okebet.asia. But I must say, it was pretty exciting.”
This perspective was echoed by his NL counterpart. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admitted he prefers the current extra-innings “ghost runner” rule, which places a player on second base starting in the 10th inning. “I think it worked well for this exhibition, but in the regular season, I’m fine with how it plays out using the ghost runner,” Roberts noted.
The ghost runner rule was first utilized during the COVID-19 affected season in 2020 and was fully ratified in the 2022 CBA. Therefore, the earliest we could see any swing-off rule approved would be during the 2026 CBA negotiations, which may address more pressing concerns.
Nevertheless, it seems this swing-off will remain a fixture for the All-Star Game and could entice fans to hope for a tied score after nine innings.
“I have a group chat with a bunch of players from around the league, and they all really enjoyed it too,” Giants pitcher Logan Webb shared. “I think it was a fantastic way to finish it.”
What are your thoughts on incorporating a home run swing-off in regular season games?