DETROIT – Nasim Nuñez set the Nationals team record (2005-present) for the most stolen bases in a single season during the seventh inning of the Nats’ 4-2 win over the Tigers on Wednesday at Comerica Park.
Nuñez, the league-leader in stolen bases, entered the game one shy of CJ Abrams’ mark of 47 set in 2023. Once he singled off reliever Jacob Waguespack in the seventh inning, Nuñez was in position to make history.
With James Wood at the plate, Nuñez was ready to go. He dashed from first to second at an elite sprint speed of 30 feet per second (the league average for a competitive play is 27 feet per second).
Nuñez dusted himself off and eyed third base. His helmet flew off as he outstretched his arm and slid into the bag with a sprint speed of 28.7 feet per second. Nuñez was safe for stolen base No. 49.
“Oftentimes, I think when you see folks trying to steal bags, they can hesitate a little bit, they maybe overthink it,” Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said of Nuñez in May. “He's exceptionally clear-minded when he's on the basepaths, and I think it allows his athleticism and his instincts to really play.”
Nuñez could eclipse the 50 stolen base mark with three games remaining this season. The next-closest player in the league is the Rays Chandler Simpson (46). In the National League, the Cubs Pete Crow-Armstrong is second behind Nuñez with 39.