Leading Off

How should the leadoff hitter approach the 1st at bat of the game?

The leadoff hitter's role is to get on base. It helps if he has decent speed, but the most important attribute of a leadoff hitter is his ability to reach base so the strongest hitters in the lineup can drive him home.

Traditional strategy suggests the leadoff hitter take the 1st pitch. I also like this approach. In fact, I like to take at least one strike when leading off the game. Taking pitches gives you some education. You start to learn the speed and trajectory of the pitcher's stuff. This will be helpful for you in this at bat and later at bats. You set the precedent that the pitcher will need to earn his outs. In the absence of reaching base, a good leadoff hitter will gain information and share it with his teammates.

Switch It Up Any strategy should be dictated by situation. There are no hard fast rules.

If I've faced a pitcher before and know his stuff well, I might pick a spot in the strike zone where I will swing if he puts it there.

If the pitcher is a stud with good control, I might also swing at that first pitch.

What approach do you take as a leadoff hitter of a game (or an inning)?

Book Reference: Ted Williams talks a lot about taking pitches in his book, The Science of Hitting. Williams took a lot of pitches, but of course he was one of the greatest hitters of all time.

Read related articles at the BaseballThink blog.

Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

635 days ago

Score 1

What happened to our guide to smart baseball? I think you leave the pitcher to pitch. If he throws balls, you get a walk, and information. If he then tries to throw strikes, you can get a hit (or HR). On baseball games, I always let the pitcher pitch. Only swing on 0-2, 1-2 and 2-2. Otherwise, let him throw.

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RomiezzoLegend

635 days ago

Score 1

I was a leadoff hitter back when I used to play in the Little League. Unless it was a meatball, I would always take the first pitch. However, that doesn't mean that you need to follow what I used to do. The pitchers I faced were usually pretty wild at first (for some reason), so I was almost always ahead in the count before the first strike. However, look at Johnny Damon and how successful he used to be. To him, the first pitch is the best pitch he can get because if sometimes, if you just let it go by, you'll regret swinging it. It works for him, and several others, while other leadoff hitters like to be patient (like Rickey Henderson; 2nd all time in walks... and I don't think a lot of pitchers want to walk Henderson). Whatever works.

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Cougar2000All-American

635 days ago

Score 0

Alex, I couldn't agree with you any more! Make the guy throw as many pitches as possible in that first at bat. It tells the others what his pitches are like and what the strike will be from the umpire's perspective.

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