Schwarbombs Away: Kyle Schwarber defines what it means to be clutch in historic All-Star Game swing-off performance

Photo Credit: Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

“Schwarbombs in the All-Star Game” belted Fox play-by-play announcer Joe Davis as Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber launched a deep home run to right field on Tuesday night in Atlanta. However, this home run, and the two other Schwarber hit, weren’t your typical All-Star Game home runs.

After a thrilling nine innings of baseball in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, the National League and American League were tied at six. If not for a rule change, this would have been the third tie in the 95-year history of the MLB All-Star Game. In 2022, the league introduced a home run derby-style swing-off to be used if an All-Star Game was tied after the ninth inning. 2025 would be the first year this new and exciting rule would come into effect.

The rules were simple: each team chose three hitters that would get three swings each on unlimited pitches, with the NL and AL rotating batters. The day before, NL manager Dave Roberts and AL manager Aaron Boone submitted a list of their three participants. New York Yankees first-base coach Travis Chapman would pitch for the AL and Los Angeles Dodgers third-base coach Dino Ebel would assume the same role for the NL.

"Dave asked yesterday, 'If there's a tie, would you do it?'" said Kyle Schwarber. "I said, 'Absolutely,' not thinking that we were going to end up in a tie when you say yes. And then as the game's going, you're looking at the score, you're not really thinking the game's going to end in a tie."

While many fans were clamoring for the likes of Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to participate, many of the All-Star starters and big names had already left the stadium for travel purposes. Even though the swing-off lineups were decided a day prior, the managers knew they wouldn’t have many of their star hitters to choose from.

Because it was the All-Star Game, the rosters were deep enough to have some of the best power hitters of the last decade-and-a-half-plus participate. Boone chose Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker, Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena, and Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda. Along with Schwarber, Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez and New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso were selected to represent the NL. Unfortunately for Suarez, he was hit on his left hand by a pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning, prompting Roberts to replace him with Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers for precautionary reasons.

The game almost didn’t get to the point of a swing-off. Early on, it looked like the NL was cruising to victory, a rare sight for All-Star Games, with the NL having gone winless in nine straight games before claiming victory in 2023. Thanks to a first-inning two-RBI double from Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte and sixth-inning home runs from Alonso and Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll, the NL had a 6-0 lead going into the final three innings.

The AL would start crawling back in the top of the seventh inning with a three-run home run from Rooker. Two RBI from Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got the game within one run in the ninth, before Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan tied the game on a two-out infield single. The NL had one last chance to win the game in the bottom of the inning, but Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman recorded an easy 1-2-3 inning.

While the game was exciting in itself, the fans can thank the back end of the NL bullpen for allowing for one of the craziest endings in All-Star Game history.

Rooker, who hit 17 home runs in Monday’s Home Run Derby, hit two more to begin the swing-off. Stowers, who was a late arrival to the party, homered on his second swing to put the NL on the board. Arozarena, a former Home Run Derby finalist, went one-for-three to extend the AL’s lead to 3-1.

Then, it was Schwarber’s turn, who many think was put on this earth for the sole purpose of hitting dingers. Since 2017, Schwarber has 298 home runs, the second-most during that span, only behind Judge’s 350. The man they call “Schwarbs” rocketed a 428-foot, 107 miles per hour line-drive home run to center field. Schwarber and the broadcasters noted that hitting a home run on his first swing would be crucial to take the pressure off his next two swings.

“I think the first swing was kind of the big one,” Schwarber said. “I was just really trying to hit a line drive versus trying to hit the home run. Usually, that tends to work out, especially in games.”

Schwarber’s next home run was less of a line drive and more of a moonshot. The three-time all-star waited just one pitch before hitting his second home run of the swing-off, a 461-foot, 109 mph bomb over the bullpen in right center field. With the swing-off now tied, each team had one representative left, but the 32-year-old still had one more swing. On one knee, Schwarber launched his third home run, a 382-foot dinger into the famous Chop House seats at Truist Park. In a competition built for someone of Schwarber’s nature, he did not disappoint.

“One of the most clutch things I’ve ever seen,” said Fox broadcaster John Smoltz on Tuesday’s broadcast.

"Schwarbs, if he touches it, it's 110," said Dave Roberts after the game. "Like I said earlier, he doesn't take much batting practice outside anymore. For him to get out there and see an arm he's never seen before, use a big part of the field and hit it out and clutch up and hit three homers. The last one bought in a little bit, kept it fair. That speaks to the hitter he is. You've got a guy who can really hit with bat to ball and has huge power. It's fun to watch."

Down 4-3, all Aranda had to do was hit one homer to keep the AL in it, with the goal of hitting more than one to give his team the lead. Alonso, a two-time Home Run Derby champion who loves the limelight, was licking his chops, waiting to walk it off for the NL if Aranda were to hit one out.

Alonso wouldn’t get his chance to swing as Aranda went homerless on three swings, barely missing a home run on his second swing and hitting a weak fly ball on his third and final attempt. When the lazy fly ball landed in the outfield, Schwarber’s NL teammates, including Alonso, immediately mobbed their hero by the dugout.

The first-ever swing-off was a historic moment that ended a fantastic All-Star Week and had all the coaches, players, and fans out of their seats the entire time.

"It's like wiffle ball in the backyard," said Aaron Boone.

"First time in history we got to do this," Roberts said, "and I think it played pretty well tonight."

Despite going hitless with a walk in the game, Schwarber was awarded the All-Star Game MVP for his hat-trick of homers in the swing-off. Schwarber became the first position player to win the All-Star Game MVP without having a hit in the game, and became the first Phillie to win the award since Johnny Callison in 1964. Alonso, who hit a three-run homer in the game, would have almost been guaranteed the game’s MVP if he’d had the chance to hit a home run in the swing-off.

When it was announced that Schwarber would be participating in the swing-off, it was a foregone conclusion that he would come through in the clutch. Schwarber has now homered in the AL Wild Card, NL Wild Card, AL Division Series, NL Division Series, AL Championship Series, NL Championship Series, World Series, World Baseball Classic Championship, and the All-Star Game swing-off.

“I think it's more going to settle in when you're all said and done,” Schwarber said. “You're going to be able to kind of look back at your whole career and realize all the really cool things that you were able to participate in or take part in and realize how special the journey was because it doesn't last long. You want to just make the most of it.”

With the All-Star Game headed to Citizens Bank Park, home of Schwarber’s Phillies, next year, maybe we will see him participate in his third derby and represent the hometown team like Braves first baseman Matt Olson did this year. However, Schwarber’s contract with the Phillies, the team he’s hit 161 home runs for, is up at the end of the season. Schwarber did say “we’ll see” during a recent media availability when asked about participating in next year’s Home Run Derby, potentially hinting that he could be back in red and white pinstripes next season.