There have been relatively few surprises in how MLB’s new rules have invigorated the running game: The bigger bases and limitations on pickoff moves were designed to boost stolen bases, and so far they’ve done just that. MLB averaged 0.48 stolen bases per team game from 2019 to ‘22. That number is now all the way up to 0.69, a near 44% increase. Teams are attempting more stolen bases than they have in years, and they’re more successful than ever, too.
But here’s a team-specific wrinkle that has been a surprise: Whither the stolen base for the Rangers?
The Rangers led MLB in stolen bases last year with 128. (The league average was 83.) The steal may have been turning into something of an endangered species across the game—hence the need for the rule changes in the first place—but it was alive and well in Texas. And the team looked as if it would keep the trend going under the new rule book in 2023. While they did bring on a new manager in Bruce Bochy, the players who contributed the most steals last year are still all in town with playing time, a group led by Marcus Semien, Adolis García and Bubba Thompson. The Rangers would have seemed a smart bet to remain near the top of the leaderboard in stolen bases this year. And yet … not so!
