Giants' Pederson wants to see teams use outfield shift: I'll 'take that hit'

Joc Pederson isn't worried about clubs using a loophole to get around the new shift restrictions by placing an outfielder in short right field.

"I hope so," the San Francisco Giants outfielder said when asked if he expects teams to circumvent the rule, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. "You don't have a left fielder, cool. I'd rather take that hit. If I flare one to left and there's no one there, it's a double or a triple."

The Boston Red Sox have turned heads this spring by moving one of their outfielders to the shallow right-field side of the playing field, which created a defensive alinement that looked very similar to a now-illegal infield shift. However, what the Red Sox have been doing isn't banned because the new rule only applies to infielders.

Boston also used the strategy on Minnesota Twins slugger Joey Gallo - a notorious pull hitter.

Pederson's spray chart isn't as dramatic as Gallo's:

The nine-year veteran added that he sees another issue coming up for teams using the loophole.

"If I hit a ball to center field, I have a left fielder in center field, not a Kevin Kiermaier or (Cody) Bellinger," the All-Star said. "It's another place where an out could be an extra-base hit."