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All-Star Game Central
NL Wins First-Ever Swing Off To Break Tie
The 95th Midsummer Classic in Hotlanta will be remembered for one thing:
The Swing-Off
In order to determine the winner of the ASG-the first-ever swing off was initiated as the AL sent their selected three, while the NL sent their selected three. In the end, the NL won 4-3 as Kyle Schwarber blasted three straight home runs while Kyle Stowers contributed to one. Jubilation erupted in the NL's dugout. As the end result, Schwarber garnered All-Star MVP honors.
It will go down as the NL winning 7-6.
The AL Came From Behind To Trigger The Tiebreaker
The AL were basically behind the entire game until it reached the ninth inning. In the ninth, Bobby Witt Jr doubled in Byron Buxton to pull it to 6-5. Two outs later, Steven Kwan hit a squibbler down the third base line to drive in Witt Jr from third base to tie the game. The rally signifies the largest comeback in ASG history to tie or take the lead. The AL were down 6-0 at one point during the game. The NL couldn't counter back in the bottom of the inning so the swing-off was on.
The NL Virtually Dominated The Game Until The End
The NL wasted no time to make their presence known as Ketel Marte hit a two-run double off the AL's Tarik Skubal to put the team up 2-0. It was the sixth that put the NL in the driver's seat as Pete Alonso slugged a three-run homer to make it 5-0. Corbin Carroll added a solo shot to make it 6-0.
The AL finally got things going with Brent Rooker hitting a three-run shot off the NL's Randy Rodriguez to make it 6-3. Bobby Witt Jr drove in a run to make it 6-4.
Phenom Jacob Misiorowski made his debut with a scoreless outing displaying his velocity (102.3 with the fastball; 98.1 with a slider).
Other Notable Highlights
The traditional, individual team uniforms returned after four season of hideous league uniforms from Nike (it was worn during the Home Run Derby). There were a couple of things to note.
-Marking the symbolism of the date, there was an in-game recognition honoring Hank Aaron's 715th home run passing Babe Ruth. It was presented with a projection of Aaron, the pitcher he hit the historic shot and others on the field. A pyrotechnic blast recreated the shot. The voice of Vin Scully was heard to bring back the feeling of the telecast.
-The ABS (automated ball-strike challenge system) made it's debut, It corrected three bad calls in short order from umpires. It is rumored to be a regular staple starting next season
This All-Star Game will go down as the first of its kind for the swing-off to determine a winner. It's off to the City of Brotherly Love.
ROSTERS
Replacements
There's were players that will not be able to honor their commitment to play in the game due to either injuries, a pitcher starting to close to the game itself, or preparation to the second-half of the season. Here are the changes to the roster.
AL
-3B Junior Caminero (RAYS) replaces 3B Alex Bregman (RED SOX)
-3B Isaac Paredes (ASTROS) replaces 3B Jose Ramirez (GUARDIANS)
-UTIL Zack McKinstry (TIGERS) replaces SS Jeremy Pena (ASTROS)
-SP Joe Ryan (TWINS) replaces SP Hunter Brown (ASTROS)
-SP Carlos Rodon (YANKEES) replaces SP Max Fried (YANKEES)
-RP Carlos Estevez replaces SP Jacob deGrom (RANGERS)
-SP Casey Mize (TIGERS) replaces SP Garrett Crochet (RED SOX)
-3B/SS Maikel Garcia (ROYALS) replaces 1B/2B Brandon Lowe (RAYS)
-SP Drew Rasmussen (RAYS) replaces SP Yusei Kikuchi (ANGELS)
-OF Randy Arozarena (MARINERS) replaces OF Julio Rodriguez (MARINERS)
NL
-RP Robert Suarez (PADRES) replaces SP Chris Sale (BRAVES)
-SP Andrew Abbott (REDS) replaces SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (DODGERS)
-RP Trevor Megill (BREWERS) replaces SP Freddy Peralta (BREWERS)
-SP David Peterson (METS) replaces SP Robbie Ray (GIANTS)
-RP Adrian Morejon (PADRES) replaces SP Zack Wheeler (PHILLIES)
-SP Jacob Misiorowski (BREWERS) replaces SP Matthew Boyd (CUBS)
Home Run Derby
The Big Dump Is The Big Winner
The power AL's Cal "Big Dumper" Raleigh did
not let up in this favorite event as he showed his season is for real as he edged his AL teammate, Junior Caminero 18-15 to be crowned as this year's Home Run Derby Champion. He made
the cut by .8 ft against Brent Rooker in the first round as they tied the number of home runs hit with 17.
In the semifinals, Raleigh defeated the NL's O'Neil Cruz by the score of 19-13. That round
was highlighted by the power of Cruz with a mammoth blast of 498 ft in his 11th home run. That blast followed up with a blast that virtually left the park. The other side of the bracket had Junior Caminero defeat Byron Buxton by the score of 8-7.
The first round had the champ qualify for the semis by a hair against Brent Rooker. Other highlights included Junior Caminero and O'Neil Cruz tying for top honors at 21, followed by Byron Buxton at 20. However, the home run that stole the round was a gargantuan 513 ft home run that literally left the park by O'Neil Cruz. The other participants that didn't make the cut (besides Rooker) were James Wood (16), hometown hero Matt Olson (15) and Jazz Chisholm Jr (3).
In total through all three rounds of the four qualifiers: Raleigh: 54, Caminero: 44, Cruz: 34, Buxton: 27
Futures Game
NL Powers Up In Win Behind Dodger Prospect
Dodgers top prospect outfielder, Josue De Paula, hit a decisive three-run home run against AL Futures pitcher Noah Schultz (WHITE SOX) that proved to be the difference maker in a 4-2 win for the NL Futures. De Paula won the Larry Doby Futures Game MVP. The Dodgers prospect is ranked #38 overall in our annual Top 50 Prospects Rankings. He has been compared to the Astros Yordan Alvarez at the plate; he spent time learning from the likes of Juan Soto and Elly De La Cruz. This game should get the ballclub's attention as it prepares for the second-half.
This year's edition featured last year's top draft pick in 2B/SS JJ Wetherholt (CARDINALS) and OF Charlie Condon (ROCKIES). However, Mariners top overall draft pick, P Jurrangelo Cijntje (AL FUTURES), displayed his ambidextrousness talent as he pitched a scoreless inning; he struck out two.
TOP 50 NOTABLES
