Defensive Indifference

Defensive Indifference is a play in the later stages of a game in which the defensive team, either ahead or behind by a large margin, allows a baserunner to advance a base without any attempt to put him out.

The play may be ruled, by the official scorer, defensive indifference. Otherwise, it would be a stolen base.

The most common situation for defensive indifference is when a runner on first base advances to second base as the pitch is delivered. This is scored as defensive indifference if the defense makes no play, and that runner scoring would not affect the outcome of the game.

In the case of defensive indifference, the runner is not awarded a stolen base in the official box score.