Overview
A stolen base is recorded when a runner advances after the pitcher begins the delivery and arrives before the catcher's throw. NPB's career record is Yutaka Fukumoto's 1,065 stolen bases for Hankyu, surpassing Lou Brock's world record in 1983. Fukumoto also holds the single-season record of 106, set in 1972. Success requires not just speed but keen observation of the pitcher's pickoff tendencies and split-second timing on the jump. With sabermetrics now mainstream, the break-even point (approximately 70% success rate for positive run expectancy) is widely understood, reducing reckless steal attempts. However, players who maintain high success rates while running aggressively-such as Tetsuto Yamada during his 2016 Triple Three season and speedsters like Shuto Ukyo-continue to provide immense value to their teams by creating pressure on defenses and manufacturing runs.