MLB All-Star Game extra innings, explained: Home run derby will decide 2023 ASG winner | Sporting News (2024)

It might be the Midsummer Classic, but that doesn't mean fans want to stay up too late to see the winner.

There have been some MLB All-Star Games in the past that have tested the patience of fans watching at home, with several running late into the night and run-times ranging well past the three-hour mark.

Now that the All-Star Game is an exhibition, one that doesn't determine home-field in the World Series, it appears MLB is willing to add in a fun, new element to decide the winner of the contest between the two leagues. It's also one that was agreed upon during the latest round of Collective Bargaining discussions.

Should the 2023 edition of the All-Star Game not be settled in nine innings, here's how the winner will be determined.

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All-Star Game extra innings, explained

Last season, the MLB and MLBPA agreed to a new method to decide All-Star Games: A Home Run Derby.

Not the one that takes place the day prior to the All-Star Game, but rather a new, abbreviated version.

"If the All-Star Game remains tied after nine innings, the game will be decided by a Home Run Derby between the teams, subject to the parties’ agreement on details and format," the agreement read, per the AP.

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The manager for each team will pick three players from the roster who agreed to participate in the tie-breaking format, with one alternate, if needed. One of the coaches on the All-Star team will throw batting practice with an All-Star team bullpen catcher behind the plate.

Batters that participate will have three swings each to hit as many home runs as possible. The team with the most home runs between the three batters will be determined the winner. Batters can take as many pitches as needed without it counting against their swing total, unlike in the Home Run Derby, where it is based on a timer.

Should theystillbe tied after the three batters swing, the managers will pick tiebreaker batters and each will have three swings to break the tie, until one team wins.

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How many All-Star Games have gone to extras?

As one might expect in a game featuring the best of the best, there have been a handful of extra-inning contests in the All-Star Game's history.

Of the 92 All-Star Games, 13 (14 percent) have gone to extra innings. Four of those have happened since 2000, with the 2008 All-Star Game tying the record for the most innings (15) and lasting the longest at 290 minutes, a whopping four hours and 50 minutes.

Longest All-Star Games

Not all of the extra-inning All-Star Games have been super long, though that 2008 matchup certainly tested the limits of viewer's patience like few before.

Two of the five longest All-Star Games in history lasted the standard nine innings, with the 1998 game running 218 minutes and the 1975 game running 215 minutes, both longer than seven extra-inning games.

All told, seven All-Star Games have lasted at least 200 minutes, according to Stathead.

Here's a look at all the All-Star Games, sorted by total minutes, according to Stathead.