By Kevin Gonzalez 
It’s early May, and something weirdly beautiful is happening across Major League Baseball: guys are running again. Like, really running. This isn’t some gimmicky flashback to 80s baseball. This is a full-blown stolen base renaissance. For a sport that spent the last decade obsessed with exit velocity and launch angle, this feels like baseball rediscovering a little bit of its soul.
Let’s start with the obvious. Luis Robert Jr. leads the league with 15 stolen bases. Not far behind him are Oneil Cruz with 14 and Elly De La Cruz with 13. Those names alone tell you this isn’t just a role player trend. These are stars. These are guys who can go deep and go first to third without blinking. (Per StatMuse)
And they’re doing it in volume. As of now, 13 different players have at least 8 steals. Compare that to this time last season, when only five had reached that mark. It’s not just a few guys running wild. It’s becoming part of the everyday fabric of the game again.
Why the sudden shift? Let’s talk strategy.
First off, teams are getting bolder. The Cubs lead the league with 45 stolen bases, with the Red Sox close behind at 43. That’s not a typo. Boston is second in baseball in steals. Somewhere Jacoby Ellsbury is smiling. (Per StatMuse)
But this isn’t just about green lighting fast guys. The rule changes from last year (smaller bases, pickoff limits, and the pitch clock) have quietly made stealing bases more viable. You’re seeing players take smarter leads and pitchers visibly rattled when a burner gets on base.
Then there’s the analytics factor. Front offices aren’t just timing pitchers with a stopwatch anymore. They’re using in-game data to spot tendencies: how often a pitcher throws over, how long he holds the ball, how quick the catcher gets the ball out. It’s Moneyball, but for stolen bases.
Meanwhile, catchers are under siege. Take Shea Langeliers in Oakland. He’s already allowed 29 stolen bases this season. The A’s pitching staff doesn’t help, but still. If your defense can’t contain speed, teams will keep pushing it. (Per Baseball Reference)
Even more telling, caught stealing rates are down leaguewide. That means runners aren’t just attempting more steals. They’re succeeding more often too.
Here’s a fun little throwback. The MLB leader in steals in 2022 was Jon Berti with 41. That was over an entire season. Right now, Robert Jr. is on pace to hit 60 with room to spare. Elly De La Cruz could realistically threaten 50 while hitting cleanup. This isn’t just speed. It’s game-breaking athleticism.
It all makes you wonder why we ever stopped valuing this.
Stolen bases inject chaos into the game. They force defenses to adapt, make pitchers uncomfortable, and shift momentum instantly. And fans? They love it. You feel a jolt of energy every time a guy takes off. It’s suspense. It’s timing. It’s a lost art being reborn.
If we’re lucky, 2025 might be the year we look back on as the one where speed finally made its comeback. Not as a novelty, but as a weapon.
And the best part? We didn’t need a juiced ball or a launch angle revolution to get here.
Just a little guts. And a green light.
All stats in this story come from StatMuse and Baseball Reference. No guesswork, no back-alley data grabs just the good stuff. And if you’ve got a problem with that, feel free to eat my shorts.
Joel Perez