Great base running is often the difference between a good baseball team and a championship one. While power hitters get the headlines and home runs create excitement, the grind of baseball is won by teams that consistently take extra bases, force defenses into mistakes, and turn singles into doubles and doubles into runs.
The Mental Side of Baserunning
Baserunning is 80% mental and 20% physical. The best base runners have exceptional baseball IQ—they understand the game situation, know what the defense is likely to do, and anticipate where the ball will be hit before it happens. This article will help you develop that mental edge.
Reading the Ball Off the Bat
The first skill every baserunner must develop is the ability to read batted balls. From the moment the ball leaves the bat, you're making split-second decisions about whether to advance, hold, or retreat. Here's how to read different types of hits:
- Ground balls to the left side: Runners on first should usually get a good secondary lead and be prepared to go. These balls often result in force plays at second.
- Ground balls to the right side: Runners must read whether the ball is fielded cleanly. If the shortstop or second baseman has to charge, you're likely safe.
- Fly balls: Read the outfielder's angle immediately. If they back up, they likely won't make a strong throw. If they come in aggressively, they might try to cut.
- Line drives: These are often caught but can also get through. Read the outfielder's positioning and react accordingly.
Secondary Lead and Jump
The secondary lead is where games are won and lost. Getting a good secondary lead puts you in position to advance on any ball hit in the gap. Here's how to take a proper secondary lead:
From your primary lead (the initial lead you take when the pitcher throws to the plate), you take a secondary lead of 10-15 feet. Your eyes should be on the pitcher, not the batter. When the pitcher breaks toward the plate, that's your cue to get your secondary lead.
Your "jump" is the acceleration you get when the ball is hit. The best baserunners get their jump by anticipating what's coming, not reacting after the fact. This requires studying pitchers, understanding their pickoff moves, and knowing which pitchers hold the ball longest.
Sliding Techniques
Knowing how to slide is fundamental. The four main slides are the pop-up slide, the hook slide, the head-first slide, and the running slide. Each has a specific use:
- Pop-up slide: Used at home plate to avoid collisions. You pop up just before contact and present a shoulder or forearm.
- Hook slide: Used to avoid tags at bases. You hook your leg around the bag while maintaining contact with your hand or glute.
- Head-first slide: Faster but riskier. Only use when you're certain you'll be safe and need that extra split second.
- Running slide: The standard slide. Keep your legs underneath you and slide through the bag.
Tagging Up
Tagging up on fly balls is one of the most overlooked baserunning skills. When a runner on second or third hears "tag up," they need to know exactly when to leave their base. Here's the key: watch the fielder, not the ball. When the fielder touches the ball, that's your cue to tag.
On sacrifice flies, tagging from third is relatively straightforward—you're running straight home. From second, you need to touch third briefly before continuing home. Practice this timing relentlessly.
Situational Baserunning
Every game situation calls for different baserunning priorities. With a runner on first and less than two outs, your job is to get into scoring position—not to get picked off or doubled up. Take a aggressive but controlled lead, and be ready to advance on any ball hit hard to the right side.
With a runner on third, your job is to draw the throw home and let the runner score. Even a hard single that doesn't score the runner can be a success if it draws a poor throw that allows the runner to score.
Conclusion
Great baserunning is about attention to detail and understanding the game. Study the players you admire, practice these techniques daily, and always be thinking two plays ahead. The extra bases you take will translate directly into more runs scored and more wins.