Diamond Digest
What MLB's Shift Ban Actually Banned, and Who It Helped: The Rules and the Numbers
Major League Baseball's 2023 shift ban mandates that all four infielders remain on the infield dirt, with at least two positioned on either side of second base, prohibiting the stacking of defenders. This rule change, designed to restore offensive balance, has demonstrably helped left-handed hitters by increasing their batting average on balls in play.
Marco Moretti·November 7, 2026
