Did somebody say home run derby to break a tie?
The National League had just the guy for that.
IU baseball legend and current Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber clubbed three home runs — in three swings — in the first-ever All-Star game game “swing off” tiebreaker. He hit three of his side’s four home runs in the tiebreaker to give the NL a 4-3 advantage and the All-Star crown.
The NL was down 3-1 in the swing off when Schwarber stepped to the plate. Here’s what happened:
#AllStarGame Swing-off
AL – 3
NL – 4Kyle Schwarber GIVES THE NL THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/NPZJciVTYn
— MLB (@MLB) July 16, 2025
Kyle Schwarber is named the 2025 @Chevrolet #AllStarGame MVP! pic.twitter.com/vZI9Uvi0Gv
— MLB (@MLB) July 16, 2025
Schwarber’s dramatic exploits were enough to earn him MVP honors at the 95th Midsummer Classic despite going 0-2 with a walk during the regular nine-inning game that ended in a 6-6 tie.
His long balls measured 428 feet, 461 feet and 382 feet.
“It was awesome,” Schwarber said on the FOX broadcast. “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.”
Due to a rule change in 2022, an All-Star tiebreaker was instituted where the game would be decided in a swing-off. Each team sends three hitters to the plate with three swings, and the combined homer total determines the winner. Schwarber was chosen by NL manager Dave Roberts to be one of the three NL hitters.
Schwarber is having one of the best seasons of his 11-year career in the big leagues. The 32-year-old former IU All-American is batting .247 with 30 home runs and 69 RBIs through 96 games.
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