The first question you should always ask is:
Do we need to steal bases to beat this team?
The stronger the pitcher, the more aggressive you should be on the bases. Against elite pitching, creating pressure and manufacturing runs becomes critical.
These tips are geared toward higher-level play, where we assume the catcher has a strong arm.
Stealing 2nd Base
Read the Defense First
- Shortstop positioning: How far are they from the bag? The farther away they are, the better your chances.
- Immediate reaction time:
- Do they leave early before the pitch clears the batter? That opens up hit-and-run opportunities.
- Do they hesitate before reacting? That delay can be the difference between safe and out.
- The best shortstops assume a steal immediately—anything less is an advantage for you.
Offensive Strategy
- Avoid fake bunts. This pulls the shortstop closer to the bag and helps the defense.
- Use a swing-through instead. An intentional miss can freeze the shortstop and delay their movement to the base.
Awareness & Opportunity
- Know where the center fielder is positioned. A swing-through may result in a ball getting through—if they’re not charging, an advance to 3rd is possible.
- Use a pop-up slide when you’ve clearly beaten the throw to stay aggressive.
Timing Matters
- The longer you wait, the better your chances. Catchers are most alert early in the count. After several pitches, they often relax.
- Look to steal more against pitchers throwing change-ups, drops, and screwballs, and less against fastballs, rises, and curves.
- Steal more frequently on pitchers working inside versus outside.
Stealing 3rd Base
Identify Coverage
- Who is covering the base—3rd baseman or shortstop?
- What is their reaction time?
Situational Strategy
- If the 3rd baseman is playing in (5–10 feet):
- Use a fake drag bunt.
- If it’s a ball, pull back late.
- If it’s a strike, miss the bunt intentionally.
- This draws the 3rd baseman in—now it’s a race against the shortstop.
- This is a read play—if the defense doesn’t bite, shut it down and get back.
- If the shortstop is covering from deep (20–30 feet away):
- Use a swing-through.
- Any hesitation gives you a strong chance to be safe.
Execution Details
- If the 3rd baseman is covering, slide to the left-field side of the bag.
- If the shortstop is covering, slide to the inside of the base.
- Be ready to pop up quickly—overthrows into left field can turn into runs.
- Always be aware of left fielder depth before the pitch.
- Don’t hesitate to steal 3rd with two outs—it can be a game-changer.
Big Picture
The better the pitcher, the more valuable aggressive base running becomes.
When you force the defense to adjust and cheat to stop the steal, you create more hitting lanes and scoring opportunities. Teach your hitters to use the entire field and take advantage of those openings.
Written by: Sean Hall
Read Sean’s bio here