Traditional baseball defensive positioning; note the two infielders on each side of second baseBaseball defensive positioning using a shift; note there is only one infielder to the left side of second base
The infield shift in baseball is a defensive realignment from the standard positions, to place more fielders on one side of the field or another. Used primarily against left-handed batters, it is designed to protect against base hits pulled hard into the gaps between the fielders on one side. Originally called the Williams shift, it has periodically been referred to as the Boudreau shift or Ortiz shift since then. After shifts became very effective in reducing base hits by Major League Baseball (MLB) batters, MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) agreed to begin restricting shifts starting in the 2023 season.
The infieldshift in baseball is a defensive realignment from the standard positions, to place more fielders on one side of the field or another. Used...
Williams in the 1920s. The infieldshift was restricted by MLB beginning in the 2023 season. Infield and outfield in Infield deep Double play depth Corners...
in ice hockey Infieldshift, a defensive alignment in baseball and softball Shift (clothing), a simple kind of undergarment or dress Shift (weapon), an...
Equipment manager General manager Batboy Ball boy/girl Team physician Infieldshift Ace (baseball) Starting lineup Injury list Mascot Official scorer Umpire...
to notice his pull-hitting tendencies and often employed an extreme infieldshift on him that left one or no fielders on the left side of the second base...
is almost completely unprotected. This is called an infieldshift or overshift. A six-man infield has also been used when circumstances warrant. For the...
example, during the 2012 season, the Toronto Blue Jays employed an infieldshift against some left-handed batters, such as David Ortiz or Carlos Peña...
most likely to hit the ball. Infieldshifts were restricted by the OBR starting in 2023, which mandated that two infielders must be positioned on either...
ground ball hit to him. The Blue Jays at times employed an extreme infieldshift for left-handed pull-hitters, moving Lawrie from third base to right...
Boudreau is credited with inventing the infieldshift, which came to be known colloquially as the "Boudreau shift." Because slugging Red Sox superstar Ted...
defenses began to deploy the infieldshift in nearly 20% of his plate appearances in 2020, whereas, in previous years, shifts were rarely used when he batted...
baseman Clint Robinson, caroming high into the air. Playing deep on the infieldshift, Rendon made a barehand grab on the deflected ball and fired to pitcher...
covered with a stitched leather coat. Base One of four corners of the infield which must be touched by a runner in order to score a run; more specifically...
early 2020s, due in part to increasing numbers of strikeouts and use of infieldshifts, teams have become increasingly willing to move players to more difficult...
(October 5, 2012). "St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves: Umpires Get Infield Fly Rule Call Right". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 29, 2019. Official...
point just 3-for-23 in the postseason, attempted to bunt against the infieldshift, but was thrown out at first for what was ruled a sacrifice, advancing...
Bay Area News Group. Baggarly, Andrew (April 28, 2014). "Extra Baggs: Infieldshift, nature of innovation in baseball". CSN Bay Area. Archived from the...
Global Information
