Here is more on the swing-off and why Ohtani and Judge did not take part.
From start to finish, the 2025 MLB All-Star Game was one of the most electric in recent memory.
After the National League built a 6-0 lead, the American League rallied back to tie things up and send the game to extra innings, triggering a first-of-its-kind All-Star tiebreaker. Rather than playing on as they would in a traditional ballgame, the two All-Star teams settled the score with a swing-off, a modified home run derby that pits three batters from each team against one another.
In the swing-off, the AL was represented by Brent Rooker, Randy Arozarena, and Jonathan Aranda, while the NL called on Kyle Stowers, Kyle Schwarber, and Pete Alonso. Exciting as the six selected batters were, many MLB fans immediately questioned why Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge were not included in the home run showcase.
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As it turns out, there is a simple reason why neither of the league's reigning MVPs was selected to participate in the swing-off. Here is more on the swing-off and why Ohtani and Judge did not take part.
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What is a swing-off?
In the context of the MLB All-Star Game, a swing-off is a tiebreaker used instead of the traditional extra-innings format. It is essentially a truncated home run derby.
Per MLB All-Star swing-off rules, each team selects three players, and each player gets three swings. The teams alternate in each round, and the team with the most home runs is deemed the winner of the All-Star Game.
The rules for the first-ever All-Star Game Swing Off 👀
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) July 16, 2025
The AL's three hitters:
-Brent Rooker
-Randy Arozarena
-Jonathan Aranda
The NL's three hitters:
-Kyle Stowers
-Kyle Schwarber
-Pete Alonso pic.twitter.com/Nl1EGAPQSM
Why Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge did not participate in MLB All-Star Game swing-off
Ohtani and Judge did not participate in the MLB All-Star Game swing-off because they were no longer at the ballpark, according to reports.
Both players had pre-arranged plans to leave Truist Park for private flights once they were pulled from the game, an annual trend for many All-Stars who typically have.
Swing-off participants are selected before the All-Star Game begins, and it is fair to assume that both players' plans were taken into account, as the NL and AL All-Star teams were led by the managers of Ohtani and Judge's respective major league teams.
MLB All-Star Game swing-off highlights
The swing-off began with Rooker homering twice, giving the AL an early 2-0 lead.
#AllStarGame Swing-off
— MLB (@MLB) July 16, 2025
AL - 2
NL - 0
Brent Rooker HOMERS TWICE! pic.twitter.com/MLAzVNaw2e
Miami's Kyle Stowers responded with one homer to keep the NL in it, keeping things in range for his team.
#AllStarGame Swing-off
— MLB (@MLB) July 16, 2025
AL - 2
NL - 1
Kyle Stowers gets 1 HR back for the NL! pic.twitter.com/apavzgZy00
With Randy Arozarena next up, the AL added one home run to the tally.
#AllStarGame Swing-off
— MLB (@MLB) July 16, 2025
AL - 3
NL - 1
Randy Arozarena adds a home run for the AL! pic.twitter.com/yB81aJt0Fg
With the NL down by two, it was Kyle Schwarber who was the hero of the night, going 3-for-3 to put his team up for good.
Kyle Schwarber: legend #AllStarGamepic.twitter.com/jkXyasugNX
— MLB (@MLB) July 16, 2025
Category: Baseball
