Lead Off Base
Also known as: primary lead, lead, walking lead
A lead off base is the distance a baserunner takes from the bag before the pitch — maximising lead distance reduces the distance to the next base while managing pickoff risk.
A primary lead is taken once the pitcher set and before the pitch. Standard primary leads are 3–4 shuffles or approximately 9–12 feet off the bag. The lead is a compromise between getting as far as possible and being able to return safely on a pickoff throw. Runners with excellent first-step quickness or good reads on the pitcher can take longer leads. At first base, the lead angle matters — taking the lead in foul territory gives a better running angle to second. The quality of the primary lead sets up everything that follows.
Example
He inched his primary lead out to 12 feet off first, reading the left-hander's high leg kick as a green light for a steal attempt.
Related terms
- Secondary LeadThe secondary lead is the movement a baserunner takes as the pitch crosses the plate — a walking step or shuffle that adds momentum toward the next base the moment contact is made.
- Jump (Stolen Base)The jump on a stolen base attempt is how quickly and decisively a runner breaks toward the next base on the pitcher's first movement — the single biggest predictor of stolen base success.
- Baserunning ReadA baserunning read is the split-second decision a runner makes based on what the ball does after contact — whether to advance, hold, or retreat.
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