What is a Hold? Definition and Examples
A hold is a statistic credited to a relief pitcher who enters a game in a save situation, records at least one out, and leaves without surrendering the lead.
What is a Hold?
A hold is a relief pitching statistic that credits a middle reliever or setup man for preserving a lead in a save situation without actually finishing the game. It is the unofficial cousin of the save: a save requires the pitcher to finish the game, while a hold recognizes the pitcher who bridges the gap between the starter and the closer. The hold was invented in the 1980s by baseball writer John Dewan and is now tracked by MLB, MLB.com, and all major statistical databases.
The hold is not an official MLB statistic — it is not listed on the back of baseball cards, and it is not part of the official rulebook. However, it is universally tracked and used in fantasy baseball, arbitration hearings, and front-office evaluations. A hold is awarded to a reliever who meets all of the following conditions: he enters the game with his team leading, he records at least one out, and he leaves the game without having blown the lead. The save situation requirement means the tying run must be on base, at bat, or on deck when he enters.
How a Hold is Calculated
The exact criteria for a hold are:
1. The pitcher enters the game in a save situation — meaning his team leads by three runs or fewer, or the tying run is on base, at bat, or on deck.
2. The pitcher records at least one out.
3. The pitcher leaves the game without having lost the lead.
4. The pitcher does not finish the game and does not record a save.
There is no minimum number of pitches or batters faced. A pitcher can earn a hold by recording a single out. He can also earn a hold even if he allows inherited runners to score, as long as his team still leads when he exits. If he allows the tying run to score, he is charged with a blown save (if he was the pitcher of record in a save situation) and does not receive a hold.
Worked Example
In 2024, Bryan Abreu of the Houston Astros recorded 38 holds, leading the American League. In a typical appearance, Abreu entered in the seventh inning with a 4-2 lead, faced three batters, struck out two, and allowed one hit but no runs. He left with the lead intact, and the closer recorded the final three outs. Abreu received the hold. In that same season, a reliever who entered with a 1-0 lead in the eighth, allowed a solo home run to tie the game, and then was removed, received neither a hold nor a save — he was charged with a blown save.
Why a Hold Matters
The hold is the primary stat for evaluating middle relievers and setup men — pitchers who are often undervalued because they do not accumulate saves or wins. In fantasy baseball, holds are a standard category in leagues that use five or more pitching categories. In real-world front offices, holds are a crude but useful proxy for a reliever's role and reliability in high-leverage situations. A reliever with 30+ holds is a trusted asset, often earning $5-8 million in arbitration.
For card simulation games, holds are a key rating input for reliever cards. A pitcher with a high hold count is one who consistently enters close games and preserves leads — that is a valuable skill in any format.
Limitations and Misconceptions
The hold is a situational stat, not a skill stat. A reliever with many holds is often simply the pitcher his manager trusts in the seventh or eighth inning — the count reflects opportunity as much as ability. Two relievers with identical stuff can have wildly different hold totals based on team quality and manager usage. The hold also does not account for inherited runners — a reliever can earn a hold while allowing both inherited runners to score, as long as the lead holds. It is often confused with a "setup man" designation, but a setup man is a role, while a hold is a single-game achievement.
Related Terms
In Legends Deck
In Legends Deck, holds feed directly into a reliever's "High Leverage" rating, which determines his performance multiplier in close-game situations. A reliever with 35+ holds receives a +3 boost to his composure rating, while a pitcher with fewer than 10 holds is treated as an unproven asset in tight spots. The simulation uses hold frequency to model manager trust — the more holds a pitcher has, the more likely the sim is to use him in the highest-leverage spots.