Big changes are coming for Major League Baseball at the end of this season and will go into effect when the 2023 season gets underway.
Among the changes that are being implemented are a pitch clock, larger bases, and banning the shift.
New York Yankees outfielder Joey Gallo has been very vocal in voicing his opinion about the shift, making it clear that he wants it to be banned.
Codify, a baseball analytics Twitter page, tweeted a graphic of the defensive alignment in the ninth inning for Gallo in the Yankees game against the Toronto Blue Jays, which shows the second baseman standing 284 feet away from home plate.
Defensive alignment vs. Joey Gallo in the 9th inning yesterday. Yes, that's the "second baseman" playing 284 feet away from the plate. pic.twitter.com/Q3xvSjZTlK
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) April 12, 2022
Gallo Ready To Say Goodbye To The Shift
There’s no question that Gallo is ready for the shift to be banned.
He is one of the many players who have been hurt by the exaggerated shift in recent years.
Banning the shift will be a welcomed change throughout baseball, especially for players such as Gallo and Matt Carpenter, the latter of which has also struggled with the shift being expanded.
There’s really no need for the second baseman to be standing that far from home plate.
Gallo could easily benefit from the changes coming, as he is mainly a pull hitter.
The defense usually has him played perfectly on the right side of the field, meaning that even if he hits it hard for what would normally be a hit, it’s ultimately caught.
We’ll see how banning the shift affects the game next season.
NEXT: Aaron Boone Sits Atop An Unwanted List