The 2025 MLB All-Star Game: A Historic Home Run Derby

Kyle Schwarber is a professional baseball left fielder born on March 5, 1993, in Middletown, Ohio.[2] He attended Indiana University, where he established himself as one of the program's most accomplished players, earning two-time First Team All-American honors and ranking among the school's all-time leaders in several statistical categories.[4] Selected fourth overall in the 2014 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs—the highest draft pick in Indiana baseball history—Schwarber made his professional debut that same year.[2][4] Schwarber made his MLB debut on June 16, 2015, with the Cubs and was named to the Baseball America Major League All-Rookie Team.[2] He gained prominence during the 2016 World Series, becoming the first major league position player in baseball history to record his first hit of the season during the World Series.[1] Despite being unable to play defense due to injury, he appeared as a designated hitter and contributed significantly to the Cubs' championship run, recording seven hits with a .412 batting average during the series.[1] Throughout his career, Schwarber has played for the Chicago Cubs (2015–2020), Washington Nationals (2021), Boston Red Sox (2021), and Philadelphia Phillies (2022–present).[1] He has been selected as an All-Star three times (2021, 2022, 2025) and won the NL Silver Slugger award in 2022.[2][3] In 2025, he was named Ted Williams All-Star MVP and made the All-MLB Second Team.[3] As of 2025, Schwarber has compiled 340 career home runs across 4,544 at-bats with a .231 career batting average and .846 OPS.[3] He played all 162 games for the Phillies during the 2025 regular season and ranks second in the National League with 340 total bases.[2][3] Schwarber remains an active and productive member of the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

Barry Lamar Bonds, born July 24, 1964, in Riverside, California, is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) left fielder widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the sport's history. Bonds played 22 seasons in MLB, starting with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1986–1992) and then the San Francisco Giants (1993–2007). Over his career, he amassed a .298 batting average, 762 home runs, 1,996 runs batted in (RBIs), and 514 stolen bases, making him the only player to reach both 500 home runs and 500 stolen bases[1][2][3][6]. Bonds holds several MLB records, including the most career home runs (762) and most home runs in a single season (73, set in 2001). He also leads in career walks (2,558) and had an exceptional on-base percentage and power hitting, combining a .444 on-base percentage with a .309 isolated power rating[2][5]. Bonds won seven National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards (1990, 1992, 1993, 2001–2004), the most in MLB history, and was selected to 14 All-Star games. Defensively, he earned eight Gold Glove awards for his excellence as a left fielder[3][5]. After signing with the Giants as a free agent in 1993, Bonds became a central figure in their offense, contributing to the team reaching the World Series in 2002. Despite outstanding personal achievements, his career was shadowed by allegations of performance-enhancing drug use, particularly after his personal trainer pleaded guilty in 2005 to steroid distribution. Bonds denied knowingly using steroids but was indicted for perjury related to these allegations[2][4]. Bonds hit his record-breaking 756th home run in 2007, surpassing Hank Aaron's career record. The Giants chose not to renew his contract after the 2007 season, effectively ending his playing career, although he never officially retired[2][4]. Post-retirement, Bonds has remained a prominent figure in baseball discussions and occasionally appears in Giants-related events.

Ken Griffey Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential players in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. Born on November 21, 1969, Griffey was the first overall pick in the 1987 MLB Draft and made his debut with the Seattle Mariners in 1989 at age 19. Over his 22-year career, he played primarily as a center fielder for the Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago White Sox, finishing his career back in Seattle. Griffey was known for his graceful swing, powerful hitting, and spectacular defensive plays. He amassed 630 home runs, ranking seventh on the all-time MLB list, along with 2,781 hits and 1,836 runs batted in. Griffey led the American League in home runs four times (1994, 1997, 1998, 1999) and won the AL MVP award in 1997. He was a 13-time All-Star, won 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards (1990–1999), and earned seven Silver Slugger Awards. Griffey also set records for consecutive games with a home run (eight, tied for the MLB record) and tied for the most Opening Day home runs (eight). Griffey was the first player to hit 400 home runs with one team (Mariners) and 200 with another (Reds). He was also part of the first father-son duo to play together in MLB history, teaming up with his father, Ken Griffey Sr., in Seattle. Griffey retired in 2010 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016, receiving the highest percentage of votes at the time. Griffey remains a celebrated figure in baseball, admired for his sportsmanship and integrity. He is often cited as a key reason for the Mariners staying in Seattle and for the construction of Safeco Field. Griffey continues to be involved in baseball through various ambassadorial and charitable roles.