Stolen Base

What is a Stolen Base?

A stolen base occurs when a baserunner advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate, without the help of a hit, walk, error, or passed ball. If the runner reaches safely before being tagged out, it’s recorded as a stolen base (SB). However, if the runner is thrown out, it’s scored as a caught stealing (CS).

Over time, the stolen base has remained one of the most exciting plays in the game. It rewards speed, timing, and instincts — giving teams an opportunity to apply pressure without needing contact from the batter.

How is a stolen base used?

Stolen bases are used to measure a player’s baserunning ability and aggressiveness. Players who steal bases effectively can disrupt pitchers, alter defensive alignments, and put themselves in better scoring position. As a result, managers often lean on base stealers in late-game situations or during close matchups.

In addition to basic counting stats, stolen bases are also used in advanced metrics like stolen base percentage (SB%), which evaluates efficiency rather than just volume. Stolen base percentage (SB%) is calculated by dividing stolen bases by total steal attempts. A higher SB% reflects a runner’s efficiency and value on the bases, not just their speed.

How is a Stolen base calculated?

To record a stolen base, the runner must:

Attempt to advance to the next base during the pitcher’s delivery
Reach that base safely without the benefit of a hit, error, or wild pitch
Not be part of a double steal where another runner is thrown out

Stolen bases can occur on any base, but most often happen from first to second. Runners are not awarded a stolen base if they advance on a passed ball, wild pitch, or defensive indifference.