What is a Hold as a Stat? Definition and Examples
A hold as a stat is a relief pitcher metric that credits a reliever for preserving a lead in a save situation without finishing the game, bridging the gap to the closer.
What is a Hold as a Stat?
A hold as a stat is a relief pitching metric that recognizes a reliever who enters a game with his team leading in a save situation, records at least one out, and leaves without surrendering the lead — but does not finish the game. It is the middle-relief equivalent of the save, designed to quantify the value of setup men and middle relievers who protect leads in the seventh and eighth innings. The hold was created by baseball statistician John Dewan in the 1980s and has since become a standard part of baseball box scores, fantasy baseball, and front-office analysis.
The hold is not an official MLB statistic — it is not recognized in the official rulebook and is not printed on Topps baseball cards. However, it is tracked by MLB.com, Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, and every major fantasy platform. The hold fills a critical gap: before its invention, a reliever who entered a 2-1 game in the seventh inning, struck out two batters, and left with the lead had nothing to show for it statistically.
How a Hold is Calculated
The criteria for a hold are:
1. The pitcher enters the game in a save situation — 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 blown the lead.
4. The pitcher does not finish the game and does not record a save.
There is no minimum number of batters faced or pitches thrown. A reliever can earn a hold by entering with a 5-2 lead in the eighth inning, recording one out, and being removed. He can also earn a hold while allowing 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 and does not receive a hold.
Worked Example
In 2024, Devin Williams of the Milwaukee Brewers recorded 32 holds before returning from a back injury. In a September game against the Chicago Cubs, Williams entered in the eighth inning with a 3-1 lead, runners on first and second, and two outs. He struck out Ian Happ on three pitches, preserving the lead. He was removed for the closer, who recorded the final three outs. Williams received the hold. In that same season, a reliever who entered with a 2-0 lead in the eighth, allowed a two-run home run to tie the game, and was removed, received no hold and a blown save.
Why a Hold Matters
The hold is the primary statistical currency for middle relievers and setup men — a group that was historically invisible in box scores. In fantasy baseball, holds are a standard category in leagues with five or more pitching categories, making them as valuable as saves for teams that punt closers. 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. The hold also matters for contract incentives — many reliever contracts include bonuses for reaching 25 or 30 holds.
Limitations and Misconceptions
The hold is a situational stat, not a skill stat. A reliever's hold total reflects his manager's usage patterns as much as his ability — a pitcher on a bad team will have fewer hold opportunities than an equally talented pitcher on a good team. 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 the "setup man" role, but a setup man is a role, while a hold is a single-game achievement. A common misconception is that a hold is worth as much as a save — it is not; a save requires finishing the game, which carries more risk.
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.