Batting Average
A statistic measuring how often a batter gets a hit per official at-bat, calculated by dividing hits by at-bats.
Example Usage
“She finished the season with a .325 batting average, leading the league.”
Batting Average
Batting average (AVG or BA) is one of baseball's oldest and most recognized statistics, measuring how often a batter gets a hit per official at-bat.
The Formula
Batting Average = Hits ÷ At-Bats
For example, if a player has 150 hits in 500 at-bats:
- 150 ÷ 500 = .300 batting average
Reading Batting Averages
Batting averages are expressed as three-digit decimals:
- .300: "Three hundred": 3 hits per 10 at-bats
- .250: "Two fifty": 2.5 hits per 10 at-bats
- .200: "Two hundred": 2 hits per 10 at-bats (the "Mendoza Line")
What's a Good Batting Average?
| AVG Range | Rating |
|---|---|
| .300+ | Excellent |
| .280-.299 | Very Good |
| .260-.279 | Above Average |
| .240-.259 | Average |
| .220-.239 | Below Average |
| Below .220 | Poor |
Batting Average Records
- Single Season: Hugh Duffy (1894): .440
- Modern Era (post-1900): Rogers Hornsby (1924): .424
- Career: Ty Cobb: .366
Limitations of Batting Average
Modern analysts note batting average's flaws:
- Ignores walks: A walk is valuable but doesn't count
- Ignores power: A single and home run count the same
- Ignores extra-base hits: Doubles, triples, homers all count as "one hit"
This is why OBP and OPS are now preferred by many analysts.
Related Terms
OPS
On-base Plus Slugging, a combined statistic adding a batter's on-base percentage and slugging percentage to measure overall offensive value.
On-Base Percentage
The percentage of plate appearances where a batter reaches base safely via hit, walk, or hit by pitch, a key measure of a hitter's ability to avoid making outs.
At-Bat
A batter's turn at the plate that results in a hit, out, or reaching base on an error, excludes walks, hit by pitches, and sacrifice plays from official statistics.
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