Hold (baseball statistics)
In baseball, a hold is awarded to a relief pitcher if they enter in a save situation, record at least one out, and leave the game without having reliquished that lead.
Generally, a save situation is when a pitcher enters the game with a lead of three runs or less and finishes the game without relinquishing the lead. Most of the time, the saving pitcher pitches one or two innings.
To receive a hold, the pitcher must not finish the game (thus becoming the closing pitcher) or be the winning pitcher.
The hold was invented in 1986 to give a statistical measure of the effectiveness of non-closer relief pitchers. Holds are most often accredited to setup pitchers, as they usually pitch between the starter and the closer.
See also: baseball statistics
