Baseball 101

The purpose of the lead-off hitter is for them to get on base. Get on base, whether it is by drawing a walk or getting the base hit. The first priority for the lead-off hitter is to have the highest on base percentage on the team.

(Photo via Wikipedia)

Not all MLB teams believe in having their lead-off hitter be the one with the highest on base percentage though. For example, Willy Taveras was the lead-off hitter when he was with the Houston Astros.  Taveras, the Astros center fielder, had a very poor on base percentage. I always thought the Astros were digging themselves in a hole with Taveras as the lead-off hitter, but I guess it's what worked for them.