MN Twins Past and Present Make Major Impact on MLB All-Star Game

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Brent Rooker
Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

When the Minnesota Twins landed Byron Buxton on the American League All-Star Game roster, it probably should have been as a starter over Javier Baez, who he’s better than in just about every statistical category this season

Twins starter Joe Ryan joined Buck on the AL squad a couple days after original rosters were announced. But because they were selected as backups, nobody was sure how much either would play. As it turned out, however, both guys would make their presence well-known.

Minnesota Twins leave mark on MLB All-Star Game

Joe Ryan pitched the fourth inning for the American League, and made his work look easy. The 29-year-old threw just 10 pitches. He struck out Manny Machado and Justin Tucker. Dodgers catcher Will Smith flew out to the second baseman.

Related: Byron Buxton Advances in MLB Home Run Derby, but Can’t Hang

In the end, the 2025 MLB All-Star Game came down to a “swing-off”, after the American League surged back from an early 6-0 deficit, to tie the game 6-6 in the 9th. Byron Buxton took over in centerfield for Baez (who went 0-for-2) earlier in the game.

But in the 9th inning, with the AL down two runs, Buck started the comeback with a one-out, nobody on, hustle double. Buxton then scored on a Bobby Witt Jr. double, before Steven Kwan tied the game at six with an infield single.

Brent Rooker trade continues to haunt Twins

No longer does the All-Star Game dictate home field advantage in the World Series, thankfully. But nobody wants to finish a baseball game tied. It’s unnatural. To avoid going into extra innings and running out of pitchers/players, the MLB turned this year to a HR Derby-style swing off to decide a winner, in the event of a tie after nine innings.

Enter Minnesota Twins former first round pick, Brent Rooker, who had just hit a 7th inning 3-run bomb that put the American League on the board and made Tuesday a game, at 6-3. After Rooker popped out on his first swing of the swing-off, he launched the next two baseballs into the Truist Park seats.

Unfortunately, Rooker’s American League teammates couldn’t carry his initial lead into the next couple rounds. After Randy Arozarena and Jonathan Aranda flopped, Phillies’ slugger Kyle Schwarber went 3-for-3 to seal the National League’s victory.

It would have been fun for Aaron Boone to use Byron Buxton in the swing off, just one night removed from his second round exit in the Home Run Derby. Unfortunately, the Yankees manager went a different route, and it likely cost the American League a win.

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