Former Cleveland Guardians legend Kenny Lofton is one of the greatest base stealers in the history of the MLB with 622 all-time and six separate 50-steal seasons over three tenures in Cleveland.
His 622 steals rank 15th in MLB history, and his record for a single season is the 75 bags he swiped in 1996, but he recently made a wild claim about how many steals he would get if he played in today’s era instead.
During a recent appearance on the “Carlos Baerga Show,” Lofton said he could steal “probably over 100, easy.”
“If I get on base that many times and with the bases being bigger and with them only throwing over twice, it would be really easy for me to steal 100 easy, and that might be in July, August when I have that many stolen bases, so I can get more than that.”
In today's game, how many bases do you think Kenny Lofton could steal? #ForTheLand
"Well, probably over 100 easy…"
–@Kenny_Lofton7 pic.twitter.com/N5AdLPZ1rY
— Carlos Baerga Show (@BaergaShow) March 28, 2025
It’s a bold claim given the fact nobody has stolen 100 bases in a season since Vince Coleman in 1987.
The larger bases and pickoff rules have made it so players are more likely to steal bags, but 100 is still a tall order no matter how fast you are or how often you get on base.
Pitchers are throwing harder than ever and catchers have progressed athletically, which mostly negates the impact of the larger bases in general.
That being said, you’ve got to love the confidence, and perhaps Lofton is right because those who remember him know just how lightning-fast he was and how capable he was of swiping a bag off any pitcher at any time during his prime.
Elly De La Cruz led baseball with 67 in 2024, and if anyone is stealing 100 anytime soon, it would likely be him if he can get his on-base percentage up a tad higher.
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