The rise and ban of the defensive shift in the MLB
Gaining any advantage in sports can mean the difference between winning and losing. In the early 2010s, according to The History of Shifting in Baseball, Major League Baseball teams started implementing defensive shifts relative to where a batter is most likely to hit the ball. However, before the 2023 MLB season, during the owner’s and MLB Players Association meetings, it was voted on that the shift would ultimately be banned. While on defense, there must be two infielders on either…