Overview
A pinch runner enters the game in place of a runner already on base, the aim being to swap in a faster player and improve the chances of advancing and scoring. The player who leaves the game in that substitution cannot come back into it, and the pinch runner takes over the batting-order slot of the runner he replaced, so he comes to the plate himself later in the game. The factors behind the call are the run differential and how many innings remain, the sequence of batters that follows, the habits of the opposing pitcher and catcher, and how many players are left on the bench. If he stays in the game to field, the position he takes is announced. A player used mainly as a pinch runner gets few turns at bat, so his playing time rests on what he offers on the bases and in the field.