It was introduced again in September that Main League Baseball can be implementing some new guidelines for the 2023 season. One such change would be the limiting of defensive shifts, with groups required to have two infielders on both sides of second base and all 4 on the close to aspect of the outfield grass on the time the pitch is launched.
The precise ramifications of those modifications shall be found because the 2023 season progresses, however the hope is that some routine grounders flip into hits as an alternative. These gamers who’ve been shifted essentially the most may stand to reap essentially the most profit from the brand new atmosphere. The prototypical instance of the hitter that’s the most harmed by the shifts has been a plodding and pull-happy left-hander who will be neutralized by having an infielder in deep proper discipline. Nonetheless, every participant is exclusive and may have been attacked in several methods, so let’s take a look at the information, with a minimal of 100 plate appearances required to be thought-about right here. Which free brokers have been shifted essentially the most in 2022? (Fast notice that Stephen Vogt has been excluded since he beforehand introduced 2022 can be his final season.)
1.  Rougned Odor – 93.8percent2. Kole Calhoun – 93.4percent3. Zack Collins – 88.9percent4. Brett Phillips – 88percent5. Brandon Belt – 85.2percent6. Mike Ford – 84.6percent7. Jed Lowrie (as a lefty) – 83.5percent8. Robbie Grossman (as a lefty) – 82.6percent9. Michael Perez – 81.8percent10. Mike Moustakas* – 81percent11. Tommy La Stella* – 80.5percent12. Josh VanMeter – 79.7percent13. Luke Voit – 76.9percent14. Colin Moran – 75percent15. Adam Duvall – 71.7percent16. Gary Sánchez – 70.5percent17. Dominic Smith – 70.4percent18. Jackie Bradley Jr. – 64percent19. Jurickson Profar (as a lefty) – 63.8percent20. Didi Gregorius – 60.3%
(* – Moustakas and La Stella technically aren’t free brokers proper now. Nonetheless, they have been each just lately designated for task and are more likely to be launched given their onerous contracts.)
Odor has been fairly terrible on the plate just lately, along with his batting common ending at .207 or beneath in every of the previous 4 years. Nonetheless, his batting common on balls in play has been at .244 or beneath in every of these seasons, effectively beneath his earlier profession marks and the .290 league common in 2022. Maybe the shift bans may get him nearer to his earlier profession quantity when he hit between .259 and .271.
Belt hit .285/.393/.595 over 2020 and 2021, adequate for a wRC+ of 162 which trailed solely Juan Soto and Bryce Harper amongst all MLB hitters in that point. He was really shifted extra in these two seasons than he was in 2022. Accidents restricted him to simply 78 video games and tepid manufacturing this yr, however maybe higher well being and a few extra open house on the sector may assist him return to being among the finest hitters within the league.
As for the remainder, a few of these guys are position gamers or getting older veterans, however a number of of them could possibly be sneaky worth pickups within the latter half of the offseason. Like Belt, a lot of them are coming off disappointing and/or injury-marred years and shall be seeking to bounce again in 2023. Grossman posted a 118 wRC+ over 2020 and 2021 however simply an 82 this yr. Voit had a 153 wRC+ within the shortened 2020 season however dipped to 112 and 102 previously two campaigns. Duvall had a 108 wRC+ over 2019-2021 however an 87 right here in 2022. Sánchez recorded a 143 wRC+ in his first two seasons however only a 96 within the following 5 years, together with an 89 in the newest marketing campaign. Smith posted an enormous 150 wRC+ over 2019 and 2020 however has slid to simply 82 since. Profar is coming off a good marketing campaign and is arguably the very best free agent nonetheless unsigned.
