Aggressive Nationals set team record for steals

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The introduction of bigger bases as part of the rules changes for this season was expected to lead to an increase in the number of stolen bases. On Saturday, the Nationals set a single-season team record in that category.

The Nats nabbed their 124th stolen base of the year, surpassing the team mark (2005-present) of 123 stolen bases set in 2006.

With one game remaining in the regular season, the Nationals have increased their 2022 season total by 65 percent. Last year’s 75 stolen bases were the seventh-fewest in team history.

“We talked about this early, about being more aggressive on the bases,” manager Dave Martinez said. “It’s a style we’ve got to play.”

The Nationals were making moves on the basepaths early in Saturday’s game against the Braves. CJ Abrams stole his team-leading 45th base of the season in the first inning, following a review.

Rookie Jacob Young robbed second base off Spencer Strider and Sean Murphy in the second inning. He then went on to his third multi-stolen base game in three weeks in the fourth inning.

“CJ’s done a great job,” Martinez said. “Lane’s [Thomas] gotten better, we’ve got Jacob Young here, who we know can steal bases.”

Among Washington’s top three base stealers, Abrams enters Sunday’s season finale one stolen base shy of tying the Nats’ single-season record by an individual player, set by Trea Turner in 2017. He also ranks third in the National League on the year.

Thomas became the sixth player in team history to achieve 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases earlier this month.

Young, who was named the Nationals’ Minor League Base Runner of the Year in 2022, has stolen 12 bases in 32 games since making his Major League debut on Aug. 26. His 11 in the month of September is tied for third in the NL with Ronald Acuña Jr. and Nolan Jones.

Compared to last season, Victor Robles led the Nationals with 15 stolen bases and César Hernández was second with 10. The Nats’ number of times of being caught stealing also dropped from 31 in 2022 to 28 this year.

“We’re going to get better at that,” Martinez said. “We’re going to get better at going first to third. But that’s going to be part of our game. I wanted our baserunning to get a little better, and we did.”