Bunting in MLB has declined. Moreover, it has some wondering if this unique way to get a hit or move a runner up will become a thing of the past. There is a time and a place to lay down the bunt for a hit or to move the runner along, but managers today are using it less and less.
Big Decline in Bunting Over 20 Years
Back in 2003, there were close to 800 bunt hits. Since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, however, that number has stayed firmly in the 300s. With about 30 games left in the 2024 season, this season’s bunt hit total will likely finish below 400.
Dynamic Part
Bunting was a dynamic part of the game “back in the day.” Managers would use this move on a regular basis to score runs. The goal is to softly hit the ball into play to advance a baserunner by surprising the defense. The idea—and skill—is to hit the ball fast enough to get it past the pitcher, yet slow enough to not allow time for other infielders to make a play.
Jake McCarthy sacrifice bunt to tie the game! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NBI9NwbSxZ
— 🌵 Mr. Az (@MrAzSports) July 3, 2024
The play intends to advance the current baserunners and maybe even get the bunter (batter) on base, too. While it can be very successful, it comes with a very high probability that the bunter will be thrown out at first. Managers need to decide if the sacrifice of an out is worth the chance of advancing other baserunners into scoring position.
Top Bunting Specialists
Brett Butler, the all-time leader in bunt hits, is considered one of the best bunters of all time. One season, he had 29 bunt hits, the highest total since dependable data has been available. Hall of Fame member Rod Carew, who had a career batting average of .328, had 91 bunt singles on 126 attempts (a 72 percent success rate).
Ichiro Suzuki, known for his amazing bat control, utilized bunting as a key part of his offense. Maury Wills was a superb base stealer in his career. However, he used bunting as a weapon to maximize his speed on the base paths. He carried out “drag bunts” and “push bunts” with such finesse that it kept opposing teams on edge every time he came to bat.
The great Mickey Mantle is also considered a great bunter. He had 11 bunt hits in a season, seven in World Series play and even one in an all-star game. He is in tenth place in number of bases-empty bunt singles, with 80.
Cincinnati Reds
Bunting in MLB has declined, but the craft is still being utilized—and successfully—in today’s game. TJ Friedl of the Cincinnati Reds could be considered one of the best bunters nowadays. Butler, now known as the Reds’ official bunting consultant, has helped the Friedl and others hone their bunting skills. In 2023, the Reds laid down 19 sacrifice bunts to move runners into scoring position. As one of the fastest teams in baseball, they are utilizing their bunting and speed to steal hits on bunt singles.
TJ Friedl lays down a bunt to tie the game in the seventh inning! pic.twitter.com/KrlKPz4NT4
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) August 25, 2024
At 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, Luke Raley of the Seattle Mariners is a big guy. The sneaky-fast Raley has no problem reaching base via the bunt. He has five bunt hits this year, only four behind the Mariners’ single-season record.
Strategic Option
Though the use of bunting has declined dramatically in MLB in recent years, it will never become nonexistent. The emphasis on power hitting has caused bunting’s continued decline. It is still a viable, strategic option in some game situations and will never be obsolete.
Giving up an out seems to have become something managers simply do not want to do. However, managers still see the benefit of bunting to confuse an opponent’s defense. It is a skill that can be utilized strategically because bunting certainly can win games if successfully employed.
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