New York Yankees outfielder Joey Gallo wants to see some changes, especially when it comes to the shift.
Gallo did an interview with The Athletic on Wednesday and said he believes that Major League Baseball should ban the shift.
“I get the defensive strategies. I do. I am 100 percent not against that. … But I think at some point, you have to fix the game a little bit,” Gallo said. “I don’t understand how I’m supposed to hit a double or triple when I have six guys standing in the outfield.”
According to The Athletic, Gallo lost 29 hits to the shift in 2021 and gained only 14. He hit just .160 with 88 strikeouts in 58 regular season games with the Yankees last season. Overall, Gallo hit .199 in 2021.
The Athletic also reported that in 2013 there were about 6,900 shifts during the regular season. The number has increased drastically, with last season seeing around 59,000 shifts during the regular season.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].