Baseball Glossary › Fielding Percentage
Fielding Percentage (FPCT)
Fielding percentage (FPCT) is the share of chances a fielder handles without an error. The formula is putouts plus assists divided by putouts, assists and errors. A fielder with no errors fields 1.000. It is also called fielding average, and the Official Baseball Rules use that name when they define the calculation.
Formula
Worked example (illustrative numbers): a shortstop has 200 putouts, 400 assists and 15 errors.
PO + A = 600, and total chances = 600 + 15 = 615
FPCT = 600 / 615 = .976
What to Know
Fielding percentage only measures sure-handedness on the balls a player reaches. It says nothing about the balls he never got to. A rangy shortstop who dives for more balls can commit more errors than a slow one and post a lower FPCT while still saving more runs.
Fielding percentage vs range factor vs OAA: range factor counts how many plays a fielder makes per game, and Statcast's Outs Above Average weighs each play by how hard it was. Run-value systems such as Defensive Runs Saved go further and convert defense into runs.
Expect position differences. Per MLB, shortstops and third basemen usually post the lowest fielding percentages because of tricky grounders and long throws, while catchers, first basemen and outfielders post the highest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does FPCT mean in baseball?
FPCT stands for fielding percentage. It is putouts plus assists divided by total chances (putouts, assists and errors), so it shows how often a fielder makes the play on balls he handles.
How is fielding percentage calculated?
Add putouts and assists, then divide by putouts plus assists plus errors. A shortstop with 200 putouts, 400 assists and 15 errors fields 600 divided by 615, or .976.
What is a good fielding percentage?
It depends heavily on position. Shortstops and third basemen face the hardest plays and post lower marks, while first basemen and catchers post higher ones. Compare a player with others at his own position in the same season.
Is fielding percentage a good defensive stat?
It is a limited one. It only penalizes errors, so a fielder who never reaches difficult balls is not punished. Range and run-value stats such as range factor, OAA and DRS capture more of a defender's value.
Is fielding average the same as fielding percentage?
Yes. Fielding average, fielding percentage and FPCT all describe the same calculation: putouts plus assists divided by putouts, assists and errors. The Official Baseball Rules call it fielding average.
What does FP mean in baseball?
In fielding stats FP is a common short form of fielding percentage, the same stat as FPCT. It is calculated as putouts plus assists divided by total chances.
Related Terms
Sources
- MLB.com Glossary: Fielding Percentage (FPCT)
- MLB.com Glossary: Total Chances (TC)
- Official Baseball Rules 2026 (MLB)
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