MLB Rule Changes: How will the shift rule affect defensive strategies in 2023?

As the 2023 Spring Training continues to roll along, one of the major talking points has been the MLB rule changes for this upcoming season. From banning defensive shifts to highly-polarizing pitch time rules, baseball fans have been vocally split on the changes.

While the pitching clock has drawn the most attention, the ban on defensive shifts may have the most impact on the game this upcoming season. According to MLB, these defensive shift restrictions are intended to increase the batting average on balls in play, allow infielders to showcase their athleticism, and restore traditional outcomes on batted balls.

"You seem REALLY confused about some of the new MLB rules...so here is a complete breakdown of the Pitch Clock Rule, Pickoff Limit, and Defensive Shift Rule. Just in time before the regular season! #DCNNGameNight" - Brandy Flores

Under the new rule, the defensive team must have at least four players on the infield dirt, with at least two infielders completely on either side of second base. If the infielders are not aligned in accordance with this rule at the time of the pitch, the batting team can choose to either accept the result of the play or take an automatic ball.

With the implementation of the new MLB rule changes, teams will need to consider which infielders can cover the most ground. Infielders will no longer rely on their teammates as much as before, likely forcing more exciting diving plays and missed balls that would have been outs last season.

Corey Seager may benefit the most from the MLB rule changes to defensive alignments

Some players and fans will likely be in favor of the MLB rule changes, most notably Corey Seager, who many experts predict will be the biggest beneficiary of the defensive shift ban.

In 2022, Seager hit 182 ground balls into the shift, recording only 25 hits. No player across the league has been as affected by the shift as Corey Seager, who produced a 0.137 batting average when ground into it.

"this is how the Guardians are playing Corey Seager — one of the most shifted players in baseball last year — with the new shift rules. The shortstop is shaded over pretty much as far as possible without being on the other side of second base" - kennedi landry

According to rotoballer.com, Corey Seager may find himself with an incredible batting average jump with the removal of the defensive shift. The site predicts that in 593 at-bats without the shift, Seager would produce 19 more hits, pushing his batting average from .245 to .277.

Seager will not be the only player to benefit from the MLB rule changes, as Kyle Schwarber and Rowdy Tellez are among the sluggers expected to see the biggest jump in their batting averages.