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Major League Baseball is testing new defensive positioning rules in the Arizona Fall League to address declining offensive production and increase base hits.
According to FanGraphs, sources indicated the league's motivation is to determine if further limiting where defenders can stand will create more base-hit action and positively impact the game's aesthetics.
The initiative follows a broader trend of decreasing run scoring and rising strikeouts across the sport.
While MLB previously restricted infield shifting, requiring shortstops and second basemen to remain on their side of second base, data shows this change had limited impact on total hits.
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