Stealing Bases
Also known as: base stealing, stealing a base, stealing second, stealing second base, stealing third base, steal more bases, base stealing technique, getting a jump on the pitcher, steal in little league
To steal more bases, win the race before you start sprinting. Take a lead you can safely get back from, learn each pitcher's first move to the plate, and go the instant he commits home. Push off with a quick first step, run straight at the bag without looking back, and slide early to the side away from the tag. In Little League Majors and younger, runners cannot leave until the pitch reaches the batter, so the jump comes from reading the pitch instead.
A steal is a race against two clocks. The first is the pitcher's time to the plate. The second is the catcher's throw, which Statcast times as pop time: from the pitch hitting the mitt to the throw reaching second. In MLB the average pop time on steals of second is 2.01 seconds. A study of MLB steal attempts from 1978 to 1990 found that pitchers had more effect than catchers on how often runners ran and how often they were safe. So study the pitcher first.
Take a lead you can get back from with one quick step and a dive. Stay balanced on the balls of your feet instead of leaning toward second. Against a right-hander, watch the front heel and front knee, since that leg has to move toward home before he can pitch. Against a left-hander, watch his front leg and break when it strides toward home. Time each pitcher from the dugout so you know who is slow to the plate.
Many coaches teach a crossover step: pivot on the right foot and drive the left leg across toward second. A lab study of 12 players compared it with a jab-step start, where the right foot first takes a short step toward the base. The jab step produced more forward push and faster early speed, so test both with a stopwatch. Run in a straight line and peek at the plate after a few strides to see whether the ball was hit.
Slide early, feet first, to the side of the bag away from the throw. In Little League Majors and below, a runner who slides head first while advancing is out, though diving back to a base is allowed. Those divisions also keep runners on the base until the pitch reaches the batter. Leading off begins in the Intermediate (50/70), Junior and Senior divisions, so check your league's rules before teaching leads.
Tips by skill level
In the dugout, pick one pitcher and say 'go' out loud the moment he commits home. When your call beats his move every time, you are ready to try it on the bases.
Time each pitcher from first move to the mitt and add the catcher's usual pop time. Compare that window with your own time from lead to bag on the same stopwatch before deciding when you have a green light.
Example
A fast 14-year-old rarely steals because he keeps getting picked off. From the dugout he notices the right-hander lifts his front heel before every pitch but spins on his back foot before every pickoff. He keeps the same lead, breaks on the first lift of the front heel and slides away from the tag. He is safe by a step.
Why it matters
A stolen base puts a runner in scoring position without a hit. A caught stealing erases a base runner, so the read and the jump matter more than raw speed.
Common mistakes
- Waiting to see the ball leave the pitcher's hand before running, which gives back the jump
- Leaning toward second in the lead, which tips off the pitcher and slows the return
- Using the same lead and read against every pitcher instead of studying each one
- Looking back at the catcher while running, which slows the sprint
- Sliding late, or straight into the tag, instead of early and to the far side of the bag
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a better jump when stealing second?
Read the pitcher, not the pitch. Learn his first move to home, such as a right-hander's front heel lifting, and break the instant you see it from a balanced lead. A quick first step straight at second matters more than a longer lead.
Can you lead off in Little League?
Not in the Majors division and below. Runners must stay on the base until the pitch reaches the batter, and leaving early draws a flag from the umpire. Leading off is allowed in the Intermediate (50/70), Junior and Senior divisions.
Should I use a crossover step or a jab step to steal?
Both are taught. In a lab study of 12 players, the jab-step start produced more forward push and faster early speed than the crossover. Time yourself both ways over the first few strides and keep the faster one.
When is stealing a base worth the risk?
FanGraphs' rule of thumb is that you need about two steals for every time you are caught just to break even. Run when the pitcher is slow to the plate or repeats the same move, and follow your coach's signs.
Can you slide head first in Little League?
Not while advancing in the Majors division and below: the runner is out and the ball stays live. A runner may dive head first when returning to a base.
Sources
- Little League: You Make the Call, leaving the base early (Major division and below: the umpire drops a flag)
- Little League Rule 7.13 text (Major and Minor: runners may not leave until the pitch reaches the batter), via Baseball Rules Academy
- Little League Backyard Tip: secondary lead (lead-off position in Intermediate 50/70, Junior and Senior)
- Little League Rule 7.00 FAQs (head-first slide while advancing, Major and below)
- MLB Statcast glossary: Pop Time (MLB average 2.01 s on steals of second)
- Miyanishi et al. (2017), Comparison of crossover and jab step start techniques for base stealing, Sports Biomechanics
- Loughin & Bargen (2008), Assessing pitcher and catcher influences on base stealing in Major League Baseball, J Sports Sci
- FanGraphs Library: wSB (stolen base run values; about two steals per caught stealing to break even)
Related terms
- Lead Off BaseA 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- SlideA slide is the controlled fall a baserunner uses to reach a base beneath a tag, to kill momentum at the bag, or to avoid a collision with the fielder covering it.
- Pop Time (Catcher)Pop time is the time from a pitch hitting the catcher's mitt to the throw reaching the glove at second base. It measures a catcher's throw on a steal attempt.
- Pickoff MoveA pickoff move is a pitcher's legal throw (or step) toward a base with a runner on. It is aimed at catching that runner off the bag before a pitch is thrown.
Related guides & benchmarks
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