Leadoff hitter

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In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup.

[edit] Strategy

Leadoff hitters must possess certain traits to be successful: they must reach base at a proficient rate and be able to steal bases. However, sabermetric analysis has indicated that stolen bases is often an overrated quality of leadoff hitters. Leadoff hitters tend to play defensively difficult positions, such as shortstop, second base, and center field. Many consider Rickey Henderson the prototypical leadoff hitter.