LV Athletics Network|TheLVAthletics·LVAthleticsNation
Independent Fan Coverage · Not Affiliated With MLBLas Vegas, NV
Fan Guide · Know the Numbers

Baseball Stats Abbreviations and Terms

Baseball stat abbreviations are the shorthand on every box score and broadcast: AB is an at-bat, IP is innings pitched, RISP means runners in scoring position, SLG is slugging percentage and MVR is mound visits remaining. This glossary defines 50 of them in plain English.

Each card below gives the short answer. Tap any term for its own page with the formula, a worked example, a real Athletics example where our player data supports one, how it compares with similar stats, and sourced FAQs.

Hitting 19 terms

The batting and baserunning numbers in every box score, from at-bats to slugging.

Batting AverageAVGHits divided by at-bats. The oldest hitting stat, shown as a three-digit number like .275.Formula, examples and FAQs →On-Base PercentageOBPHow often a batter reaches base per plate appearance, counting hits, walks and hit-by-pitches.Formula, examples and FAQs →Slugging PercentageSLGTotal bases per at-bat. It measures power by weighting a double as two bases, a triple three and a home run four.Formula, examples and FAQs →On-Base Plus SluggingOPSOn-base percentage plus slugging percentage, one number that combines getting on base with hitting for power.Formula, examples and FAQs →Slash LineAVG/OBP/SLGBatting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage written together, in that order, separated by slashes.Formula, examples and FAQs →At-BatABAn official turn at bat. Walks, hit-by-pitches, sacrifices and interference are excluded, which is why AB is lower than PA.Formula, examples and FAQs →Plate AppearancePAEvery completed turn at the plate, whatever the result. Walks, hit-by-pitches and sacrifices all count.Formula, examples and FAQs →Games PlayedGPThe number of games a player appears in, as a starter or a substitute. Shown as G or GP.Formula, examples and FAQs →Runs Batted InRBIRuns that score as a result of a batter's plate appearance, such as a hit, sacrifice fly or bases-loaded walk.Formula, examples and FAQs →Total BasesTBBases earned on hits: one for a single, two for a double, three for a triple and four for a home run.Formula, examples and FAQs →Extra-Base HitXBHAny hit that is not a single: doubles, triples and home runs added together. A simple count of a hitter's power.Formula, examples and FAQs →Sacrifice FlySFA fly-ball out that lets a runner tag up and score. The batter gets an RBI and is not charged with an at-bat.Formula, examples and FAQs →Runners in Scoring PositionRISPA runner on second or third base, close enough to usually score on a single. Stats with RISP split out those at-bats.Formula, examples and FAQs →Left on BaseLOBRunners stranded on base. For a batter, runners left when he makes an out; for a team or pitcher, runners on base when an inning ends.Formula, examples and FAQs →Quality At-BatQABA coaching stat for productive plate appearances. It has no official MLB definition, so each team sets its own criteria.Formula, examples and FAQs →Walk RateBB%The share of plate appearances that end in a walk. High is good for hitters, low is good for pitchers.Formula, examples and FAQs →Strikeout RateK%The share of plate appearances that end in a strikeout. Low is good for hitters, high is good for pitchers.Formula, examples and FAQs →Stolen BaseSBCredited when a runner advances to a base he is not entitled to, usually during a pitch, without a hit, walk or error.Formula, examples and FAQs →Caught StealingCSCharged when a runner trying to steal is put out before he reaches the next base.Formula, examples and FAQs →

Pitching 15 terms

How pitchers are measured, from innings and earned runs to saves, holds and mound visits.

Earned Run AverageERAEarned runs a pitcher allows per nine innings. Runs that score because of an error or passed ball are unearned and do not count.Formula, examples and FAQs →Runs AllowedR / RAEvery run charged to a pitcher, earned or unearned. ERA uses only earned runs, while runs allowed counts them all.Formula, examples and FAQs →Innings PitchedIPHow many innings a pitcher works, counted in thirds. Each out is one-third of an inning, so 5.2 means five and two-thirds.Formula, examples and FAQs →Walks and Hits per Inning PitchedWHIPWalks plus hits allowed, divided by innings pitched. It shows how many baserunners a pitcher allows per inning.Formula, examples and FAQs →Strikeouts per Nine InningsK/9Average strikeouts a pitcher records per nine innings: strikeouts times 9, divided by innings pitched.Formula, examples and FAQs →Walks per Nine InningsBB/9Average walks a pitcher issues per nine innings: walks times 9, divided by innings pitched. It measures control.Formula, examples and FAQs →Strikeout-to-Walk RatioK/BBStrikeouts divided by walks. It shows how many batters a pitcher strikes out for each one he walks.Formula, examples and FAQs →Groundout-to-Airout RatioGO/AOGround-ball outs divided by outs on fly balls and line drives. It shows whether a pitcher or hitter is ground-ball or fly-ball heavy.Formula, examples and FAQs →Quality StartQSA start of at least six innings with three or fewer earned runs allowed.Formula, examples and FAQs →Complete GameCGA game in which one pitcher pitches the entire game for his team, however long it lasts.Formula, examples and FAQs →ShutoutSHOA complete game in which the pitcher allows the opponent no runs.Formula, examples and FAQs →SaveSVCredited to the relief pitcher who finishes a win while protecting a close lead, under the conditions in Official Baseball Rule 9.19.Formula, examples and FAQs →HoldHLDCredited to a reliever who enters in a save situation, records at least one out and hands the lead to the next pitcher intact.Formula, examples and FAQs →Blown SaveBSCharged to a reliever who enters in a save situation and allows the tying run to score, even if that run was not his own.Formula, examples and FAQs →Mound Visits RemainingMVRThe number of mound visits a team has left in a game. As of 2026, MLB teams get four per nine innings, plus one per extra inning.Formula, examples and FAQs →

Fielding 8 terms

Putouts, assists and the modern range metrics that put a run or out value on defense.

PutoutPOCredit for the fielder who physically completes an out, by catching a batted ball, tagging a runner, stepping on a base or catching a third strike.Formula, examples and FAQs →AssistACredit for each fielder who touches the ball before a teammate records the putout, usually by throwing it.Formula, examples and FAQs →Total ChancesTCPutouts plus assists plus errors: the number of plays a fielder handled or should have handled.Formula, examples and FAQs →Fielding PercentageFPCTPutouts plus assists divided by total chances: the share of plays a fielder converted without an error.Formula, examples and FAQs →Range FactorRFPutouts plus assists per game or per nine innings: how many plays a fielder makes, not how cleanly.Formula, examples and FAQs →Outs Above AverageOAAStatcast's range-based fielding metric: how many outs a defender saved compared with an average fielder, based on how difficult each play was.Formula, examples and FAQs →Ultimate Zone RatingUZRA fielding metric that estimates how many runs a defender saved or cost compared with an average fielder at his position.Formula, examples and FAQs →Defensive Runs SavedDRSA fielding metric that measures, in runs, how much a defender saved or cost his team compared with an average fielder.Formula, examples and FAQs →

Advanced 8 terms

Sabermetric stats that adjust for park, league and luck to measure true value.

Isolated PowerISOSlugging percentage minus batting average. It strips out singles to show a hitter's raw extra-base power.Formula, examples and FAQs →OPS PlusOPS+OPS adjusted for ballpark and league, scaled so 100 is league average and 150 is 50 percent better.Formula, examples and FAQs →Weighted Runs Created PluswRC+An all-in-one offense rating that weights each outcome by run value, adjusts for park and league, and sets 100 as league average.Formula, examples and FAQs →Fielding Independent PitchingFIPAn ERA-scaled estimate built only from strikeouts, walks, hit batters and home runs, the outcomes a pitcher controls.Formula, examples and FAQs →Batting Average on Balls in PlayBABIPBatting average on balls hit into the field of play only, leaving out home runs and strikeouts. League average sits near .300.Formula, examples and FAQs →Wins Above ReplacementWAROne number for a player's total value: how many more wins he is worth than a freely available replacement-level player.Formula, examples and FAQs →Exit VelocityEVThe speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, measured in miles per hour by Statcast on every batted ball.Formula, examples and FAQs →Launch AngleLAThe vertical angle, in degrees, at which the ball leaves the bat. Statcast's sweet spot is 8 to 32 degrees.Formula, examples and FAQs →

All Terms A-Z

See these stats in action on the Athletics player pages and the A's all-time records, or walk the franchise story in the Athletics history archive.

Definitions are checked against the MLB.com glossary, the Official Baseball Rules and the FanGraphs Sabermetrics Library, cited on each term page. LV Athletics is an independent fan site and is not affiliated with the Athletics or Major League Baseball.