Former Red Sox Slugger Takes Credit For All-Star Game Conclusion

The 2025 Major League Baseball All-Star Game had an exhilarating finish on Tuesday when Philadelphia Phillies slugger and former Red Sox Kyle Schwarber took home MVP honors after winning the first-ever home run swing-off to break a 6-6 tie.

With the game tied heading into extra innings, MLB’s recently introduced home run swing-off between the American League and National League proved to be a rousing success. Schwarber blasted three consecutive home runs to best Brent Rooker of the Athletics and seal a victory for the National League.

Social media was buzzing after the new format was revealed, and former Red Sox fan favorite and current Chicago Cub Justin Turner weighed in by resharing a post from his wife that proved that the home run derby-style finish was something he championed long before Tuesday’s epic finish.

The post, which clearly shows a newspaper headline from 2020 with Turner advocating for the home run derby finish, received a humorous response from the 17-year MLB veteran, who wrote, “What a great idea that guy had,” in response to his wife’s post.

Turner, who spent the 2023 season with the Red Sox, hit .276 with 23 home runs and 96 RBIs during his lone season in Boston. Currently a member of a resurgent Cubs team that tops the NL Central standings, Turner has had a rough time at the plate this season, batting a paltry .216 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in 112 at-bats.