The Boston Red Sox have figured out a clever way to get around MLB’s new shift rule. During Friday’s spring training game against the Minnesota Twins, the Red Sox employed a loophole in the shift ban that allows outfielders to shift, as long as two infielders are on either side of second base and have both of their feet on the dirt when the pitch is released.
The Red Sox moved center fielder Adam Duvall into shallow right field behind second baseman Enmanuel Valdez and left fielder Raimel Tapia moved to center. Right fielder Alex Verdugo stayed in his normal position. Joey Gallo, who was the batter at the time, drew a walk, so the shift didn’t end up playing a factor.
This loophole could give the Red Sox a distinct advantage going forward. Former Red Sox infielder Will Middlebrooks pointed out that the Green Monster in left field at Fenway Park will allow them to use their outfield shift against pull-happy left-handed hitters. This allows the Red Sox to maximize the shift rule to their advantage while still abiding by the new rules.
It will be interesting to see how other teams around the league take advantage of this loophole in the coming years. With the shift ban in place, teams will have to be creative in how they use their outfielders to gain an edge. The Red Sox may have found a way to get around the shift ban, but only time will tell if it is an effective strategy.
