Shallow Pop-Ups with a Runner on Third: Who Takes It and Why It Matters

In today’s game, it’s not the flashy plays that separate smart teams from the rest — it’s the small decisions made in the margins. One of the most overlooked of these? Who takes the shallow pop-up when there’s a runner on third.

Let’s break down a sequence from Sunday’s Royals-Dodgers game. Bobby Witt Jr. is on third. Vinny Pasquantino hits a soft pop-up…