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 amount allows a player to advance a base without any attempt to put the runner out.

The play may be ruled, by the official scorer, defensive indifference.

The most common situation for defensive indifference is when a runner on first base advances to second base as the pitch is delivered. This would normally be regarded as a stolen base attempt, but is instead 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.