Date of Award
Spring 5-1-2026
Document Type
Honors Project
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Department
Mathematics
Department Chair or Program Director
Esunge, Julius
First Advisor
Hydorn, Debra
Second Advisor
Denhere, Melody
Major or Concentration
Applied Mathematics and Statistics
Abstract
In an era of baseball dominated by home runs and launch angles, the subtle art of baserunning is often overlooked, despite its measurable impact on winning games. Baserunning Runs (BsR) addresses this gap by quantifying the number of runs a player contributes through performance on the basepaths, capturing value beyond traditional metrics like stolen bases. This study constructs multiple regression models that predict BsR for Major League Baseball (MLB) players based on baserunning-related statistics. The primary objective is to examine the association between BsR and key predictors, including stolen bases (SB), extra bases taken (EB), and sprint speed (SS), while controlling for additional variables such as opportunities, years played, and physical attributes of the players. By evaluating linear, interaction, and Poisson regression models, this study identifies an appropriate modeling approach and highlights the underlying factors that contribute to effective baserunning in modern baseball.
Recommended Citation
York, Ethan, "Base Running: A Lost Art in Baseball" (2026). Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects. 683.
https://scholar.umw.edu/student_research/683