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MLB teams utilizing new technique to keep runners from stealing

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Jul 1, 2025 10:23 AM ET

Major League Baseball teams are adapting to rules about pitchers being able to control baserunners, and some appear to have found one that helps to neutralize the run game.

The San Diego Padres are among the teams that have started using a sort of pick play to combat runners trying to start a steal early in certain situations. They successfully pulled it off Saturday, as catcher Martin Maldonado can be seen dropping his glove to signal to pitcher Randy Vasquez that he should attempt a pickoff. Maldonado presumably noticed that baserunner Matt McLain was preparing to make a break for second.

Vasquez made the pickoff attempt, and McLain was picked off successfully.

Pretty much every MLB team is using a dropped glove pick at 1B to combat the “movement before action” steal. In this case it works to perfection in this early break scenario. pic.twitter.com/TN4aFlfIKu
— Jerry Weinstein (@JWonCATCHING) June 29, 2025

Rules introduced in 2023 mean that pitchers can only attempt to pick off a runner twice. If they try a third time, they must either successfully pick the runner off or will be charged with a balk. That obviously gives a baserunner a big advantage, and defenses have had to adjust.

This certainly is not an antidote to every potential stolen base, but the new rules have made it a lot easier for runners to gain an advantage. The game always adapts, though, and this is the latest example of that.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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