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What the 2023 Rules Changed

Steal attempts jumped 33% in one season and success hit a high. Left-handed hitters got back to even on balls in play, but not to their old edge.

Roster Memo research · Updated November 6, 2026 · Every number on this page is computed from the data on each refresh

In 2023 MLB added a pitch clock, limited pickoff throws, made the bases bigger and banned the infield shift. This study looks at two things those rules were meant to change: running and the hits left-handed pull hitters lost to the shift.

Running came back at once. Stolen base attempts fell to 1.36 per game in 2022 and jumped to 1.80 in 2023, the most since 2011. Runners also got better: success rose from 75% to 80%. In 2025, clubs attempted 1.82 steals a game and made 78%.

Left-handed hitters used to have an edge on balls in play: from 2000 to 2012 their BABIP ran +6 points against right-handed hitters. During the shift's peak, 2016 to 2022, it ran -5. Since the ban it has run -1, about even. The ban took away the shift's penalty, but the old advantage hasn't come back.

The Evidence

Stolen base attempts per game

Steals plus times caught, per game. The 2023 rules are marked.

11.21.41.61.82200020052010201520202025Season2000: 1.752001: 1.862002: 1.662003: 1.522004: 1.522005: 1.492006: 1.602007: 1.612008: 1.582009: 1.692010: 1.682011: 1.872012: 1.802013: 1.522014: 1.562015: 1.472016: 1.462017: 1.422018: 1.412019: 1.282020: 1.312021: 1.202022: 1.362023: 1.802024: 1.882025: 1.821.82
SeasonAttempts
20251.82
20241.88
20231.80
20221.36
20211.20
20201.31
20191.28
20181.41
20171.42
20161.46
20151.47
20141.56
20131.52
20121.80
20111.87
20101.68
20091.69
20081.58
20071.61
20061.60
20051.49
20041.52
20031.52
20021.66
20011.86
20001.75
Source: Roster Memo analysis of Retrosheet data

Stolen base success rate

Steals as a share of attempts.

65%70%75%80%85%200020052010201520202025Season2000: 68.8%2001: 68.8%2002: 68.2%2003: 69.4%2004: 70.2%2005: 70.6%2006: 71.4%2007: 74.4%2008: 73.0%2009: 72.4%2010: 72.4%2011: 72.2%2012: 74.0%2013: 72.8%2014: 72.8%2015: 70.2%2016: 71.7%2017: 73.0%2018: 72.1%2019: 73.3%2020: 75.2%2021: 75.7%2022: 75.4%2023: 80.2%2024: 79.0%2025: 77.7%77.7%
SeasonSuccess
202577.7%
202479.0%
202380.2%
202275.4%
202175.7%
202075.2%
201973.3%
201872.1%
201773.0%
201671.7%
201570.2%
201472.8%
201372.8%
201274.0%
201172.2%
201072.4%
200972.4%
200873.0%
200774.4%
200671.4%
200570.6%
200470.2%
200369.4%
200268.2%
200168.8%
200068.8%
Source: Roster Memo analysis of Retrosheet data

Batting average on balls in play, by side of the plate

League totals. Switch hitters are left out.

.280.290.300.310200020052010201520202025SeasonLeft-handed, 2000: .302Left-handed, 2001: .297Left-handed, 2002: .297Left-handed, 2003: .296Left-handed, 2004: .300Left-handed, 2005: .298Left-handed, 2006: .306Left-handed, 2007: .305Left-handed, 2008: .303Left-handed, 2009: .305Left-handed, 2010: .302Left-handed, 2011: .300Left-handed, 2012: .299Left-handed, 2013: .299Left-handed, 2014: .299Left-handed, 2015: .303Left-handed, 2016: .298Left-handed, 2017: .301Left-handed, 2018: .297Left-handed, 2019: .295Left-handed, 2020: .282Left-handed, 2021: .291Left-handed, 2022: .287Left-handed, 2023: .297Left-handed, 2024: .292Left-handed, 2025: .290Right-handed, 2000: .298Right-handed, 2001: .292Right-handed, 2002: .289Right-handed, 2003: .292Right-handed, 2004: .296Right-handed, 2005: .293Right-handed, 2006: .300Right-handed, 2007: .301Right-handed, 2008: .296Right-handed, 2009: .294Right-handed, 2010: .295Right-handed, 2011: .291Right-handed, 2012: .296Right-handed, 2013: .296Right-handed, 2014: .300Right-handed, 2015: .298Right-handed, 2016: .302Right-handed, 2017: .300Right-handed, 2018: .296Right-handed, 2019: .299Right-handed, 2020: .300Right-handed, 2021: .294Right-handed, 2022: .296Right-handed, 2023: .297Right-handed, 2024: .291Right-handed, 2025: .293Right-handed .293Left-handed .290
SeasonLeft-handedRight-handed
2025.290.293
2024.292.291
2023.297.297
2022.287.296
2021.291.294
2020.282.300
2019.295.299
2018.297.296
2017.301.300
2016.298.302
2015.303.298
2014.299.300
2013.299.296
2012.299.296
2011.300.291
2010.302.295
2009.305.294
2008.303.296
2007.305.301
2006.306.300
2005.298.293
2004.300.296
2003.296.292
2002.297.289
2001.297.292
2000.302.298
Source: Roster Memo analysis of Retrosheet data

How We Did It

  • Attempts are stolen bases plus caught stealing, divided by games played.
  • BABIP is hits minus home runs, divided by at-bats minus strikeouts minus home runs plus sacrifice flies.
  • Batting side comes from each player's listed handedness.

What This Can't Tell You

  • Several rules arrived together, so this can't separate the bigger bases from the pickoff limit or the clock.
  • BABIP also moves with defense, park and the ball, not only the shift.

Sources: Retrosheet. The information used here was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Interested parties may contact Retrosheet at "www.retrosheet.org".

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