2024 MLB News and Notes #2

[Chip R]

In a truly amazing season, one of the most amazing accomplishments Ohtani has are his 51 stolen bases. Before 2024, his career high in stolen bases was 26, in a season in which he was caught stealing 10 times. This season, at age 30, he has 51 steals and has only been caught stealing 4 times. That is a success rate of nearly 93%. Elly De La Cruz runs like a racehorse and has stolen 64 bases in 80 attempts, an outstanding 80% success rate, but Ohtani's success rate is as if he ran like Secretariat. How can he have become such a prolific base stealer at this point in his career? This is Bugs Bunny vs. The Gas House Gorillas crazy.

I'm sure it's more about studying pitchers' moves and picking your spots than about speed. He has tried to steal 55 times. Elly has had 80 attempts. The more you steal, the more likely it is you will get caught. I think also that, as you pointed out, the most SBs he's had before this year is 26. Perhaps he was being overlooked as a SB threat. He also hasn't pitched this year. My guess is that when he starts pitching again he will not try to steal as many bases.