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MLB News & Moments You Should Know: 2025 All-Star Game Edition

SWING-OFF!!!

Pablo Figueroa
MLB Morning News 7/16/2025

The All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are in the books, and Pitcher List has you covered on all the memorable and meme-worthy moments that will live on forever. 

 

The Actual Game

 

Talk to Schwarb! 

With the NL losing ten of the previous eleven All-Star games, the pressure was clearly on the Senior Circuit to break that cycle. It all started perfectly for them, with Ketel Marte tagging Tarik Skubal with a two-run double in the first inning. Strong pitching from starter Paul Skenes and effectively relief from the likes of Clayton Kershaw and Logan Webb were enough to keep the AL scoreless through six frames, as the NL’s bats extended the lead to six runs following big homers from Pete Alonso and Corbin Carroll. This is where the AL finally responded, first using a Brent Rooker three-run homer to get on the board, and ultimately tying the game off closer Edwin Diaz in the ninth.

This meant that for the first time ever, the All-Star Game would be decided on a swing-off, which is basically Home Run Derby meets a soccer penalty shootout. With each manager getting to pick three hitters to take three chances at a homer, NL skipper did not choose local hero Matt Olson, but he at least had the presence of mind of selecting Kyle Schwarber, who delivered a clinic in power hitting to finally give the win to the NL. With Brent Rooker getting two long balls and Randy Arozarena hitting only one, the AL had a 3-1 lead heading into Schwarber’s turn, but the hulking slugger had no trouble in turning that deficit into a lead. With the 4-3 lead going for the NL now, Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda could not display his own prodigious power, going empty-handed in three swings.

While the nine-inning game saw Schwarber go 0-for-2 at the plate with a walk, the swing-off was enough to earn him the MVP award. Such is the power of, well, power!


Hey, nice ABS

 

The ABS challenge system was one of Spring Training’s biggest stories, with pitchers and hitters getting the chance to appeal when they thought a particular pitch should have been called differently. While that trial run made it certain that it is coming to real MLB games soon, the league decided to introduce it to a larger audience during the All-Star game. We did not have to wait long to see it in action, as Tarik Skubal (as if he needed help!) turned a called ball into a strikeout. Players would ultimately go 3-for-4 in their challenges, including Alejandro Kirk stealing a strike for Aroldis Chapman and Edwin Diaz ending the ninth with a called strike that was originally called a ball. As any major rule change, it will certainly require an adjustment period. So far, it seems the players already have the hang of it.

 

 

The Wilson Heritage

 

Let’s face it, in-game interviews have lost most of their luster in nationally televised games, with some of them even leading to miscues on the field. Players are paid extra for them, so of course they will keep happening, much to the chagrin of managers and sometimes even of the viewers. However, we can make an exception for one that happened in last night’s game, as the third inning featured a simultaneous interview of the Wilson family, as former All-Star Jack in the sands and current All-Star Jacob from the infield became part of the live broadcast. Outside of the usual boilerplate questions, it was a heartwarming moment that reminds us that the love for baseball usually begins with a game of catch between dads and sons.

 

Honoring Frederick

 

In a fairer world, Freddie Freeman would have been a lifelong Atlanta player, following in the footsteps of Chipper Jones as a Hall of Fame one-team player that delivered a championship to the city. Alas, things did not play out that way, with Freeman needing to move to the Dodgers after the front office failed to retain him. Even as he has found success with LA, every return to Atlanta has proven to be bittersweet for Freeman, and it became even more evident with his reception during the All-Star festivities. Following a nice ovation when he was introduced, an even bigger gesture from the crowd came when he was replaced at first base, as Atlanta will never forget how great he was for the local team.

 

Live! from the Red Carpet

 

Tougher than Hitting

Cal “Big Dumper” Raleigh became the focal point of All-Star festivities, parlaying his incredible first half into a Derby win and suddenly becoming one of the faces of baseball. The MLB media team capitalized on this moment by securing an interview with Raleigh in the red carpet, but it came with a caveat. Following the surprise quiz format, Raleigh was provided a list of terms and had to guess if they were a peach or a dump truck, in a clever play of his epic nickname. After guessing right in his first four tries, Raleigh went 0-for-4 to close out the pop quiz. Maybe he should stick to hitting homers.

 

 

Style and Heart

Just like it happened in 2024, Reds star shortstop Elly de la Cruz was one of the red carpet’s standouts, with a flashy outfit that matched his larger-than-life personality well. However, this time, de la Cruz also took advantage of this moment to honor his late sister, providing a heartwarming touch to his multi-colored outfit.

 

 

Kid Photography

 

Sporting his best suit, Logan Webb celebrated his second straight All-Star nod by taking a nice family portrait near the red carpet. It all seemed nice and ordinary, until the video camera showed who was behind the other lens. Yes, none other than baseball legend Ken Griffey, Jr. As usual, game recognizes game.

 

 

Going, Going, Gone

Putting Both Cheeks Into It

In a moment that was adorably foretold from an early age, Seattle star catcher Cal Raleigh became the first backstop in history to win the Home Run Derby. With none other than his dad playing pitcher, Raleigh was almost eliminated in the first round, with a controversial ruling allowing him to advance. Tied with 17 dingers with A’s slugger Brent Rooker, Raleigh’s longest homer was measured at .08 feet longer than Rooker’s (who knew that MLB could produce such precision?); from there, things became a bit easier for Raleigh, who homered from both sides of the plate to eliminate Oneil Cruz in the semifinal and then outlast Junior Caminero in the final round. Raleigh’s 54-homer performance was a success all around, as his exploits led to the Derby enjoying a 5% boost in ratings compared to last year.

King of Kong

Oneil Cruz may have been eliminated in the semifinal, but he delivered the biggest blast of the evening, by far. With a Statcast estimation of 513 feet and 118 miles per hour, Cruz became the sixth player to hit a Derby homer over 500 feet since 2016, when Statcast started tracking these blasts, and only the second to achieve it outside of Coors Field. To add to his usual coolness, Cruz did it while using a Donkey Kong-themed bat.

DENIED!

Part of every Home Run Derby are the kids who run around the outfield retrieving balls that don’t leave the yard. But what happens when one of those kids decides to go all Mike Trout? With Junior Caminero fighting for the title, a line drive screamer appeared well on its way to clearing the fence, only for one of these kids to make a superb play and rob the potential homer. Since this is the Derby, the homer counted anyway, as a probably befuddled umpire had to confirm the call. That does not take away from this impressive young man, who would probably get a nod from a young emperor Palpatine.

 

 

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Pablo Figueroa

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Pablo Figueroa is a Baseball Writer here at Pitcher List, with experience as a writer since 2013. He lives in Aguascalientes, Mexico - proud home of Los Rieleros. When he´s not thinking about baseball , he's a husband, owns two dogs, watches random episodes of The Sopranos , plays padel, and works on his day job to pay the bills.

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