MLB Rule Changes 2023: Can Cody Bellinger bounce back to All-Star form after Shift Ban?

Cody Bellinger expressed his joy over the most recent shift ban implemented in the MLB, which is scheduled to take effect in the 2023 season.

Bellinger experienced a significant slump following his peak performance in 2019, when everyone expected him to continue growing and eventually become one of the league's most powerful hitters.

Bellinger experimented with his setup during the 2020 COVID-19 break. He later hurt his shoulder in the '20 NLCS and underwent subsequent surgery that reduced some of his freakish shoulder flexibility. He added even more lift to his swing, and was no longer able to rely solely on the fast-twitch reaction as he had in '19.

“Your whole life, growing up, you hit a line drive, the pitcher’s right there, you hit a line drive back at his face. That’s a hit your whole life. In these last five years, it’s an automatic out.

There’s a shortstop right there and vice-versa when you have a third baseman in right field. And so that ball you’ve hit in front of right field used to be a hit your whole life. And now you got Manny Machado standing right there catching everything!” - Cody Bellinger

Bellinger struggled with his swing and his outfield throwing. He aims to come back strong and have a better season with the Chicago Cubs in 2023. He hit 47 home runs in 2019, slashing.305/.406/.629.

Over the next three seasons, his total home runs dropped to 41. Fans and management alike were shocked to see this downfall for a player who was just 24 years old at the time. Now that the shift ban has been lifted, the Cubs' organization believes that Cody can get back to his earlier self.

"These infielders are going to have to cover a lot of ground and show off what they can do as opposed to standing where the ball is probably going to be hit. For me, as just like a baseball fan, I think that’s pretty exciting" - Cody Bellinger

Cody Bellinger is destined to benefit from the new shift ban in the MLB

The ban on shifts will be beneficial, if only for the visual cues it will provide. The field will appear more open to Cody Bellinger, and he will be aware that well-hit grounders to the pull side can earn him rewards. His launch angle needs to decrease because it has been far too high for the last two years. His batting average and confidence will increase if he can get a couple more hits from the right side. He can pull it off since he's in his formative years and is finding his feet at the highest level.

"Cody Bellinger will forever be a Dodgers legend" - BlakeHHarris