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MLB

StaTuesday: Brewers' Villar stealing bases at prolific rate

By Nate Gotlieb FoxSports
Published | Updated
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Apr 17, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jonathan Villar (5) slides into third base on a steal attempt against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Villar has become arguably the most dangerous runner in the major leagues this season, leading all of baseball with 26 steals -- five more than any other player and six ahead of the nearest National Leaguer.

He's also on pace to record one of the most prolific baserunning seasons in Brewers franchise history.

Villar has attempted 35 stolen bases this season while accruing 316 plate appearances. That means he's attempted a steal in approximately 11.1 percent of his plate appearances (note: he has not served as a pinch runner yet this season).

That ratio of stolen base attempts to plate appearances would rank fourth in Brewers history over a full season among the franchise's stolen base leaders (this is not a perfect ratio as it doesn't account for steals accrued during pinch-running appearances).

Player Season PA SBAtt SB% SBAtt/PA
Tommy Harper 1969 Sea 640 91 80.2 14.2
Mike Felder 1987 Mil 328 42 81 12.8
Scott Podsednik 2004 Mil 713 83 84.3 11.6
Pat Listach 1992 Mil 649 72 75 11.1
Jonathan Villar 2016 Mil 316 35 74.3 11.1

Villar is on pace for approximately 682 plate appearances this season if he continues to play at the rate he has. That also means he is on pace for about 76 steals attempts this season if he continues to attempt steals in 11 percent of his plate appearances

Given his current steals success rate of 74.3 percent, Villar is on pace to steal about 56 bases this season, which would rank third in Brewers franchise history (note: which includes the Seattle Pilots) in a single season.

Rank Player Season PA SB
1 Tommy Harper 1969 Sea 640 73
2 Scott Podsednik 2004 Mil 713 70
3 Pat Listach 1992 Mil 649 54
4 Paul Molitor 1987 Mil 542 45
5 Jean Segura 2013 Mil 623 44
6 Scott Podsednik 2003 Mil 628 43
7t Darryl Hamilton 1992 Mil 528 41
7t Paul Molitor 1983 Mil 682 41
7t Paul Molitor 1988 Mil 691 41
7t Paul Molitor 1982 Mil 751 41
11 Carlos Gomez 2013 Mil 590 40
12 Tommy Harper 1970 Mil 692 38
13t Alex Sanchez 2002 Mil 435 37
13t Carlos Gomez 2012 Mil 452 37
15t Mike Felder 1987 Mil 328 34
15t Paul Molitor 1980 Mil 512 34
15t Carlos Gomez 2014 Mil 644 34
26t Jonathan Villar 2016 Mil 316 26

Villar may have to increase his stolen base percentage, however, if he wishes to join the Brewers' single-season top five. His 74.3 success rate ranks 58th in team history, far behind Podsednik, Listach, Molitor and Segura's percentages in their best seasons.

Regardless, Villar has been the biggest reason why the Brewers lead the majors in stolen bases with 65. The 25-year-old leads baseball individually with 26 stolen bases, five more than Rajai Davis of the Indians. He could become the first Brewers player to lead the majors in stolen bases since Podsednik in 2004.

No Milwaukee Brewers player (note: not including the Pilots) has led baseball in stolen bases before or since.

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