The 2025 MLB All-Star Game had it all, from the usual elite matchups to late-inning rallies, culminating in the first-ever home run swing-off in lieu of extra innings.
The National League charged out to an early lead with two runs off reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. Pete Alonso and Corbin Carrol lengthened the NL's advantage to 6-0 with two homers in the sixth inning, Alonso's going for three runs.
The AL didn't stay quiet all game, though. Brent Rooker crushed a three-run homer in the seventh inning, followed by a solo homer off the bat of Bobby Witt Jr. Witt also knocked an RBI double in the ninth inning, and Steven Kwan quickly tied the game with an RBI single. Aroldis Chapman pitched a shutdown bottom of the ninth inning, and the inaugural swing-off began with a 6-6 tie.
Three hitters for the AL and NL alternated to hit as many homers as possible on three pitches. Brent Rooker delivered with two home runs for the AL, Kyle Stowers crushed one for the NL, and Randy Arozarena did the same to open the second round. Kyle Schwarber then put the game to bed with three massive bombs to seal the win for the NL.
It could've been the AL's victory if the Red Sox had played their cards right after the 2021 season.
Kyle Schwarber's All-Star Game swing-off heroics reminded Red Sox fans what could've been
#AllStarGame Swing-off
— MLB (@MLB) July 16, 2025
AL - 3
NL - 4
Kyle Schwarber GIVES THE NL THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/NPZJciVTYn
The Red Sox traded for Schwarber at the 2021 trade deadline as a boost of power to help carry them to the playoffs. Schwarber provided exactly that, with a .291/.435/.522 slash line, .957 OPS and seven homers through 41 games in the regular season. He continued his slugging pace into the postseason, with nine hits over 11 games between the Wild Card round, the ALDS and ALCS. He had three homers and six RBI across all three rounds.
Schwarber was incredibly well-received by Red Sox fans and even earned the nickname "Kyle from Waltham" (bestowed upon him by Jared Carrabis). Schwarber took the joke like a champ, and even uttered a "go Hawks," Waltham High School's mascot, during a postseason press conference.
Schwarber was only a rental candidate at the trade deadline, but his success in Boston and fans' quick affinity for the slugger should have been enough to convince the Red Sox to sign him long-term. Boston had two power bats at the time in J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers, but Schwarber would've been an undeniable lift in the batting order long-term.
The slugger is coming up on free agency again after the 2025 season, but doesn't fit the Red Sox as well as he did before. Alex Cora has, for the most part, wished to keep his DH spot flexible to use Masataka Yoshida and others in matchup-based situations, and Schwarber could make his lineup construction more difficult, especially if Boston doesn't trade at least one of its many outfielders.
Still, Schwarber's swing-off heroics reminded Red Sox fans of what could've been.