Swing-off

A swing-off is a type of tiebreaker used to determine the winner of a game whose score is tied after regulation innings. It was specifically designed to be used at the All-Star Game. It was introduced in 2022 and was first put to use at the 2025 All-Star Game.

During the regular season, MLB games that are tied after nine innings continue with a tiebreaker rule in place that was first designed for international competitions and that was tweaked for its introduction during the Covid season of 2020. Under that rule, regular baseball continues to be played, albeit with one (or more) additional baserunners on start at the beginning of every half-inning in order to increase the likelihood of scoring.

In contrast, a swing-off looks nothing like the continuation of a regular game. It is more akin to a football (soccer) game being decided on penalties, or a hockey game going to a shoot-out after a scoreless overtime period. In a swing-off, both teams designate three batters to take swings at pitches in alternance, with only batted balls that clear the fence as home runs being counted. The batters swing at pitched thrown by a teammate or a coach, in a procedure akin to the Home Run Derby. Each batter gets three swings, starting with the first batter from the visiting team. Once he has completed his turn, the first batter from the home team takes over, and so on down the line. The contest ends when one team has taken an insurmountable lead, or when one team is ahead after the two have take nine or more swings each. The winning team is credited by a win by a single run.

In the case of the 2025 All-Star Game - the first time this procedure was used - the game was tied at 6 after 9 innings were played. After all three American League batters had taken their allotted swings, the National League was ahead, 4 homers to 3, with one batter remaining. That batter did not need to come to bat as the lead was insurmountable, and the NL was declared the winner by a 7-6 score.

There is no plan to extend the use of the swing-off beyond the All-Star Game at this time, although it could be adapted to other similar exhibition games were the number of available pitchers is limited.