Baseball Glossary › Batting Average
Batting Average (AVG)
Batting average (AVG, also written BA) is a hitter's hits divided by his official at-bats. It is shown as a three-digit decimal such as .275, which means 275 hits per 1,000 at-bats. Walks, hit-by-pitches and sacrifices are not at-bats, so they do not raise or lower it.
Formula
Worked example (illustrative numbers): a hitter has 150 hits in 500 at-bats.
AVG = 150 / 500 = .300
Athletics example: Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson, the A's all-time great leadoff man, had 3,055 hits in 10,961 career at-bats. See the full career line on the Rickey Henderson player page.
AVG = 3,055 / 10,961 = .279
That rounds to his listed .279 career average. Career MLB totals from our player database (MLB Stats API).
What to Know
Batting average does include outs. Every at-bat that ends in a groundout, flyout or strikeout adds to the denominator without adding a hit, which is what pulls the number down. What it leaves out are the trips to the plate that are not at-bats: walks, hit-by-pitches, sacrifice bunts, sacrifice flies and times awarded first base on interference or obstruction.
Batting average vs slugging percentage: AVG counts every hit the same, while slugging percentage weights a double as two bases and a home run as four. AVG vs on-base percentage: OBP also credits walks and hit-by-pitches, so a patient hitter can post a modest average and a strong OBP. MLB.com notes that the league-wide batting average has typically hovered around .250 in recent years.
Batting average is the first number in a slash line, followed by OBP and SLG. It is easy to read, but because it ignores walks and power, most analysts read it alongside those two stats rather than on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the abbreviation for batting average?
Batting average is usually abbreviated AVG in box scores and stat tables, and BA in some reference books and articles. Both mean the same thing: hits divided by official at-bats.
How do you calculate batting average in baseball?
Divide total hits by total at-bats. A hitter with 150 hits in 500 at-bats is batting .300. The result is written as a three-digit decimal without the leading zero.
Does batting average include outs?
Yes. Outs made in an official at-bat, such as groundouts, flyouts and strikeouts, count in the at-bat total and lower the average. Sacrifice bunts and sacrifice flies are outs that do not count as at-bats, so they do not affect it.
Do walks affect batting average?
No. A walk is not an official at-bat and is not a hit, so it leaves batting average unchanged. Walks do raise on-base percentage, which is why OBP gives a fuller picture of how often a hitter reaches base.
What is the difference between batting average and slugging percentage?
Batting average is hits per at-bat, with every hit counted once. Slugging percentage is total bases per at-bat, so doubles, triples and home runs count more than singles. Slugging measures power, while batting average measures how often a hitter gets a hit.
What is a good batting average in MLB?
MLB.com notes that the league-wide batting average has typically hovered around .250 in recent years, so a hitter well above that is getting hits more often than most. A .300 average has long been treated as a mark of an excellent hitter.
Related Terms
Sources
- MLB.com Glossary: Batting Average (AVG)
- MLB.com Glossary: At-Bat (AB)
- Official Baseball Rules 2026 (MLB)
LV Athletics is an independent fan site and is not affiliated with the Athletics or Major League Baseball.