Dodgers Prospect Kendall George: 100 Steal Season
- Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Kendall George has achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming just the fifth Minor League player since 2005 to reach 100 stolen bases in a single...
- George, drafted 36th overall in 2023, is widely considered the fastest player in the Minor Leagues.
- George's stolen base breakdown by month highlights his consistent betterment throughout the season:
Kendall George Reaches 100 Stolen Bases, Challenging Minor League Records
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Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Kendall George has achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming just the fifth Minor League player since 2005 to reach 100 stolen bases in a single season. The 20-year-old outfielder for the High-A Great Lakes Loons reached the century mark in his 111th game, showcasing a blend of elite speed and refined technique.
George, drafted 36th overall in 2023, is widely considered the fastest player in the Minor Leagues. His recent surge has been especially remarkable, with 14 steals in his last five games.This amazing run puts him within reach of Chandler Simpson’s 104 steals from 2024, the second-highest single-season total since 2005. Billy hamilton’s record of 155 steals in 2012 remains the seemingly untouchable benchmark.
A Historic Stealing Streak
George’s stolen base breakdown by month highlights his consistent betterment throughout the season:
| Month | Stolen Bases |
|---|---|
| April | 10 |
| May | 11 |
| June | 10 |
| july | 27 |
| August | 34 |
| September (through Sept. 4) | 8 |
| Total | 100 |
His performance in the last month has been nothing short of phenomenal. George has stolen at least two bases in each of his past 28 games, dating back to August 1st. The five-game stretch of 14 steals is unprecedented in MLB history, according to Statspass.He’s also surpassed Rickey Henderson’s monthly record of 33 steals in a single month (August, 1983), with 34 in August 2024.
Furthermore, George has 14 games this season with three or more stolen bases, exceeding Henderson’s single-season record of 12 (also in 1983). remarkably, there have only been 12 instances of a player stealing three or more bases in a single game across all of MLB in 2024 – George has accounted for all 14 of those instances at the High-A level.
beyond Speed: The Growth of a Base-Stealing Threat
While possessing “90-grade speed” according to scouts coming out of high school, George acknowledges that raw speed isn’t enough. He’s focused on refining his technique, improving his base-running instincts, and selecting optimal stealing opportunities.
Going out there and being fearless and understanding that I am capable of doing this was really all I needed. I just put my head down and kept running.
His success rate has dramatically improved this season,reaching 80.6% (100-for-124) compared to 75% (36-for-48) in his first full professional season with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2024. George attributes this to a more calculated approach.
I’ve learned you can’t really run reckless. There is technique that goes into it. Even though I am really fast and can get away with some things.This year I’ve been really honing in on that technique, picking spots better, picking counts better and things of that nature. even though it has improved, I think there is still room for improvement. I’ve been thrown out 20-something times.I could already be at 100. But the strides that I have made this year are kind of positive.
Playoff Implications and Future outlook
George’s pursuit of history coincides with the Great Lakes Loons’ playoff push.They are currently a half-game back of Lake County for the final playoff spot in the Midwest League. while any steals accumulated in postseason play won’t count towards his regular-season total, the added pressure and competition provide another chance for George to showcase his skills.
Opposing teams are increasingly aware of George’s threat, employing tactics like multiple pickoff attempts and intentionally walking him to avoid giving him opportunities to steal. he embraces the challenge.
Later on in the season, it got more evident that people are really, really trying to throw me out. Any chance they got, getting picked over three times, giving me free bases, whatnot. They were doing anything they can to make it as hard as possible for me to steal bases. But it’s fun when it gets challenging like that, finding ways to overcome.