Baseball Shift: Why Lefties Get Shifted and Pitching Advantages

Question
Steve,

 Why is it that left handed hitters pull the ball more then righties, and a shift is put on for them? It has got to be some thing physical?

Thanks David

Answer
Hi David,
Thanks for the question.

I really don't know if they pull the ball more. I have no data on that.

However, I do know that most pitchers are right handed, and right handed pitchers curve balls break into the lefty hitter.  It seems to be that a possible reason is rh hitters have the advantage of hitting curve balls that break into them. When they hit it well it will be pulled.

Also, it is possible to pull pitches that are middle half in (and we know you pull some just off that middle point) so again lefty hitters will seem to be pulling more pitches than righty hitters.

Hope this helps.
Steve