Beating the shift is one of the hardest things to do in Major League Baseball.
When there are five or more players on one side of the field, it’s hard for a player to try and find a hole.
Not for Anthony Rizzo.
In the midst of Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s three-home run night, the New York Yankees star first baseman found a way to beat the shift against the Toronto Blue Jays.
With the Blue Jays leading 6-4 in the bottom of the ninth, Rizzo came to the plate for the Yankees with one out.
With the count sitting at 3-1, Rizzo tried to bunt.
It didn’t end up like your typical bunt would, as it traveled a little farther than normal.
But it bounced in the right spot and was called fair, allowing Rizzo to beat the shift and reach base.
The Anthony Rizzo Bunting Experience pic.twitter.com/7onjn3c9T4
— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 14, 2022
Small Ball
Though it may not be considered a good bunt in other circumstances, it certainly was in this case.
Rizzo showed us all how to beat the shift and made it look super easy.
Of course, it’s harder than it looks, but Rizzo didn’t seem to have any trouble doing it.
It bounced perfectly and just stayed fair, which brought the tying run up to the plate for New York.
The Yankees lost by a 6-4 final and Rizzo’s spectacular bunt is lost amongst the historic performance Guerrero had, but nonetheless, he impressed us all with his ability to fight against the shift and find a way to beat it.
If only other players would bunt more frequently in attempt to beat the shift.
Sure, it’s harder than it looks, but it can be done, as Rizzo proved last night.
NEXT: Gerrit Cole Comments On His Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Hat Tip
