Everyone believes that left fielders are more useful than right fielders, however most would prioritize first base over right field. Left-handed infielders in positions other than pitcher and first base are at a significant disadvantage when playing defense due to the counterclockwise sequencing of bases. Thus, they are less common.
Left-handed pitchers are rare because they tend to be worse players overall. They hit about as well as right-handed pitchers but don't run very well or play any other position than pitcher. Additionally, many teams will switch the batting order between left-handed and right-handed pitchers to even out their strengths and weaknesses. Last, due to the lack of left-handed hitters there aren't very many good ones available in free agency or through the draft.
There have been several left-handed infielders who have played major league baseball including Joe DiMaggio, Eddie Murray, Ozzie Smith, Mike Scioscia, and Omar Vizquel. However, none of them were worth keeping on their team for longer than two seasons since they all had defensive deficiencies that could not be fixed by switching gloves. There have also been several left-handed outfielders who have played in the major leagues including Roy Campanella, Billy Herman, and Ken Boyer. However, none of them were ever used as hitters so they can't be listed here.
They are more suited to fielding balls hit in the gap between first and second base, making throws to second or third base, and keeping runners on base at first base. "Defensively, it does matter," Fox baseball analyst Tim McCarver said. "All else being equal, you'd rather have a lefty at first base."
First basemen usually stand about 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and weigh 210 pounds (95 kg). Right-handed hitters lead off most games; however, there are also left-handers who start in front of right-handers. Overall, most players will spend about 250 to 300 games over the course of their career at first base.
Left-handed pitchers usually start most games in their role, but there are also right-handed pitchers who play first base. At first base, right-handed pitchers stand about 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weigh 220 pounds (100 kg).
The majority of first basemen are left-handed, because most batters are right-handed. First base is considered a "left-handed batter's position".
However, some first basemen are right-handed, such as Mark Belanger of the Chicago Cubs and Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees.
Because the vast majority of batters are right-handed, left-handed pitchers are highly valued. A left-handed pitcher's curveball breaks inside on a right-handed batter, making it a more difficult pitch to hit. Left-handed hitters are one step closer to first base than right-handed batters, providing them an advantage. Overall, left-handers account for 17% of all pitches thrown in baseball.
In addition, left-handed batsmen have an edge over their right-handed counterparts because most balls hit to them tend to be struck with greater force. This is particularly true for fastballs by pitchers outside of the strike zone, which are likely to result in hits against any species, but are especially common against lefties, who face many such pitches every season.
Overall, there is no significant difference between left- and right-handed batters regarding how often they get hits or walks. However, left-handed pitchers have an advantage due to the higher rate of hard-hit balls against them. This leads to more runs scored against lefties and therefore lefties are less effective than right-handed pitchers.
The reason why so few left-handed starters play major league baseball is because it is much easier to find right-handed batters who can handle left-handed pitching. The lack of left-handed batters makes it difficult for left-handed pitchers to find work.
When the pitcher's handedness is the same as the batter's, the pitcher has an advantage, and when they are opposite, the batter has an edge. Furthermore, because the majority of pitchers are right-handed, left-handed batters have less expertise facing left-handed pitchers. However, recent research has shown that this advantage may not exist for all hitters.
One study conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that left-handed batters have the same success against right-handed and left-handed pitchers. This means that there is no advantage to being a lefty hitter against either right-handed or left-handed pitchers.
Another study published in 2005 analyzed game data from 1954 to 2003 and concluded that left-handed batters still have an advantage over right-handed batters overall, and especially against left-handed pitchers. The study also concluded that this advantage exists even after you control for the fact that most major league players are right-handed.
Here is how the study's authors explained their findings: "Our results indicate that although the number of left-handed batters has increased over time, this increase has been offset by an equal number of right-handed batters. Thus, the overall batting average of left-handers has remained about the same over time."
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