Trevor Story is closing in on a historic milestone this season with an extraordinary stolen base efficiency that has turned heads across Major League Baseball. Through his 22 successful steals without a single caught stealing, Story is establishing one of the most remarkable records in recent history, drawing attention to his outstanding base running prowess.
Stolen bases have been rising league-wide, creating increased emphasis on identifying key players and pitchers involved in these plays. Understanding which teams and pitchers are most vulnerable to stolen bases helps fantasy managers pinpoint speed threats like Story, who has combined power hitting and flawless basestealing in the 2024 campaign.
Recent Trends in Fantasy Baseball: Players to Watch for Steals
As stolen bases gain prominence this year, the Miami Marlins stand out as the most exploited team on the basepaths, allowing 14 stolen bases last week alone without throwing out a single runner. Their season total now sits at 157 stolen bases allowed, far ahead of the Houston Astros, who are second with 126.
Much of Miami’s struggles can be attributed to rookie catcher Agustín Ramírez, who has endured a bleak season defensively. Despite starting seven games last week, Ramírez allowed eight stolen bases against him while managing to throw out just 8% of baserunners— the lowest rate for any catcher starting in 40 or more games. His defensive difficulties were brought into sharp focus during Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, when four bases were stolen within five innings alongside a throwing error and a passed ball by Ramírez.
The rookie’s struggles extend beyond caught stealings: three throwing errors, four fielding errors, and a dozen passed balls highlight his ongoing issues as a defensive liability. Opposing teams continue to capitalize on this, consistently targeting the Marlins’ catching and pitching staff for theft opportunities.
Pitcher Edward Cabrera also suffers in this aspect, as he tends to deliver slow pitches to home plate and allows significant leads, handicapping his catchers like Ramírez or Liam Hicks in their attempts to prevent stolen bases. Over two starts, Cabrera has been on the mound for seven stolen bases against his team, underscoring his vulnerability in the run game.
Such defensive weaknesses are crucial for managers to monitor, especially late in the season when every stolen base can alter the outcome of close games. Players facing the Marlins possess clear opportunities for securing bases, even at average speeds.
Trevor Story’s Remarkable Stolen Base Feat and Other Efficient Base Runners
Trevor Story’s resurgence this year has been marked not only by his power hitting, with 19 home runs, but also by his perfect stolen base record of 22-for-22. This places him among a rare group of players who have achieved at least 22 steals in a season without being caught. Only three other players have done this, with Trea Turner’s 30 steals in 2023 being the all-time high.
Alongside Story, Byron Buxton has stolen 18 bases without a caught stealing, adding his name to the elite list of highly efficient baserunners. Meanwhile, Victor Scott II and Kyle Tucker lead the league in efficiency among players with minimal caught stealings, each only caught twice despite high steal totals. Tucker, notably, uses some of the shortest leads in the league, relying on expert timing to succeed.
CJ Abrams has also improved his efficiency significantly this season, stealing 26 bases but being caught only three times. This improvement is a major step up compared to last season when he was caught 12 times in 43 attempts, showing a maturation in his base running strategy and technique.
The New York Mets as a team are on track to set a new standard for stolen base success, boasting a 90.1% success rate so far. Their streak of near two months without a caught stealing was broken only recently by Francisco Lindor, who was picked off and tagged out while attempting to steal second base just this week.
Players Who Have Struggled with Base Stealing or Efficiency
Not all players have found success on the basepaths this season. Brice Turang, despite showing notable improvements in batting speed and overall hitting, has seen his stolen base attempts and success decline. This inverse relationship between his hitting development and stolen base production suggests a shift in his game focus or possibly changes in team strategy that limit his opportunities to run.
Luis Arraez remains a mystery on the bases, as his continued ability to steal bases could greatly improve his fantasy value. Despite appeals for him to adopt a more aggressive approach on the basepaths, Arraez has yet to seize those chances consistently, making his stolen base production a key point of concern for those counting on his speed.
Corbin Carroll, another high-profile speed threat, has started showing increased stolen base activity after moving into the third spot in the batting order. After three stolen bases last week without being caught, Carroll appears ready to ramp up his base stealing efforts, which fantasy owners will want to watch closely for future gains.
Strategic Implications for the Stretch Run
With the regular season progressing, the importance of stolen bases has grown significantly, making efficiency and timing more critical than ever. Players like Trevor Story showcase how blending power and base running efficiency can greatly enhance team and fantasy value, while teams like the Marlins highlight the risks of poor defense against the run.
Fantasy managers should pay close attention to team pitching staffs and catcher abilities, as these factors heavily influence the likelihood of successful steals. A combination of fast baserunners facing teams with weak arm strength or slow throws to the plate creates ripe conditions for accumulating stolen bases.
As Trevor Story nears historic stolen base efficiency, his unique 22-for-22 success rate sets a high bar for baserunning skill in the modern game, serving as both an inspiration and benchmark for aspiring base stealers ahead of the postseason.