Left-Handed Hitter Trends Since the Shift Ban
We analyze how LHH batting average and BABIP have shifted since the 2023 shift restrictions.
MLB restricted extreme defensive shifts in 2023, and LHH BABIP has risen roughly .010 on average.
This change has helped pull-heavy LHHs like Murakami.
Meanwhile, hitters who had trained to hit the other way against shifts are now re-adjusting.
On the pitching side, the value of ground-ball induction has shifted slightly, prompting pitch-mix changes.