Cody Bellinger has hilarious best take on banning the shift

The 2023 season saw MLB officially ban the shift and let’s just say that Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger is a huge fan.

The 2023 season saw MLB implement new rules to speed up the game, and to make it more exciting. One rule that has dominated discussions is the pitch clock, which gives a pitcher a set amount of time in certain situations to throw it to home plate, and batters have a certain amount of time to step into the batter’s box.

Another rule that was implemented this campaign is the banning of the shift. So, no more instances where fielders all shift to a certain side of the field where the batter primarily hits to to get the easy out.

You can consider Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger a huge fan of the banning of the shift.

Cody Bellinger is a huge fan of the banning of the shift

Bellinger had always been a huge proponent for the banning of the shift. Earlier this year, he explained why the ban would “open up” the game.

“It just opens up a completely different part of the game,” said Bellinger during an appearance on Ian Happ’s The Compound Podcast this past January, h/t theScore. “Your whole life, growing up, (if) you hit a line drive … back (at the pitcher) … that’s a hit your whole life. In these last five years, it’s an automatic out. … There’s a shortstop right there.”

Bellinger’s numbers have dropped off ever since winning the NL MVP award back in 2019. Last season, his final with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Bellinger recorded a .210 batting average, a .265 on-base percentage, a .389 slugging percentage, 19 home runs, 68 RBI, 70 runs scored and 106 hits in 144 games. After the season, he was non-tendered by the Dodgers, allowing him to hit free agency, which opened the door for him to sign a one-year, $17.5 million contract.

Through six games this season, Bellinger has gone 5-for-23 at the plate, where he recorded one home run, two runs scored, and six RBI.

Early on this season without the ban, Bellinger is already a big fan of the new shift rules.