Last week, I jokingly commented on MLB 14: The Show's fact sheet, which included the addition of "left-handed infielders." To me, this seemed not only an odd thing to add, but an odd thing to publicize.

If you are unfamiliar with why left-handed infielders are so rare, it has to do with fielding and throwing runners out. Lefties field with their right hand, but need to throw to the left (first base) to get the out. This leads to an awkward transition, bad throws, and extra time for the runner. Think about the throw a right-handed first basemen needs to make on a 3-6-3 double play, or a right-handed quarterback who rolls to the left for similar throws.

To be fair, a number of commentators have said that they welcome the addition since they're lefties and like to create themselves in Road to the Show as an infielder. That's totally fine, and a good justification for why we play video games in the first place. Frankly, it's more likely that a left-handed shortstop makes the major leagues than it is for me to hit a fastball.

But just how uncommon are left-handed infielders?

Using the always helpful baseball-reference.com, I ran a search for infielders (2B, SS, and 3B) who threw with their left hand since 1900. Here are some of the more interesting results:

• When looking at players with at least five games played at any one of those three positions, only two players show up: Mike Squires and Hal Chase.
• Decreasing the number to three doubles the list, adding George Sisler and Don Mattingly.
• If we drop the criterion to just one game played, the list "swells" to 14, including names like Lou Gehrig and Terry Francona.

Let's dig into those first two names (Squires and Chase), both who are listed as playing at least five games at an infield spot other than first base. First, history (by way of baseball-reference.com) records these two as being primarily first basemen.

• Squires started four games at the hot corner for the 1984 Cubs, including one complete game. That year, he compiled 37 innings over the course of 13 games, recording three putouts and nine assists in 12 chances -- good for a 1.000 fielding percentage.
• Ironically, in 1980, Squires caught two innings -- another position not usually manned by southpaws.
• He also spent time in the outfield and got the chance to throw a third of an inning.
   
• Chase is a bit more interesting, if only because over the course of his career, he played every position but catcher.
• Like Squires, Chase threw a third of an inning (1908 Yankees).
• Regarding infield though, outside first base, Chase put in the most amount of time at second base. Over the course of his career, Chase played 35 games at second, including 13 complete games for the 1916 Reds.
• While we don't have the total number of innings he played there, he did make 18 errors in those 35 appearances. His fielding percentage for just second base is .890 -- respectable for a lefty playing second base, I guess.
• Again, during his career he spent parts of three games at shortstop and one at third, as well as covering all three outfield spots.

For more context on some of these players and why they were playing infield, check out this old but fascinating blog, The Immaculate Inning, which discusses most of these left-handed infielders.

So ... left-handed infielders aren't common, and statistically, they are just a footnote in MLB history. But thanks to MLB 14, you can try to beat the odds (and physics, I suppose) and get your left-handed infielder to "The Show."