Baseball Offensive Stats

In baseball, there are a variety of statistics which fans and coaches can use to judge the quality of certain players, and of overall teams. These stats enumerate important aspects of a baseball game, and how well a player is doing by each standard. Baseball stats are generally divided into two categories: offensive and defensive stats. Below, we will take a look at basic offensive stats and examine what each stat means.

The following offensive statistics are generally considered the most important offensive stats for any baseball player, and are usually among the first seen on their profiles or records:

At-Bats (AB)

At-bats refers to the number of times a player reached a base as a result of fielder’s choice, a hit, an error, or was put out on a non-sacrifice play.

Plate Appearances (PA)

Plate appearances refers to the number of times in a game that a player completed his turn at batting, regardless of the result of that turn.

Runs (R)

Runs refers to the number of times in a game that a player crossed home plate to score.

Hits (H)

Hits refers to the number of times in a game that a player safely reached base after hitting a ball.

Extra-Base Hits (XBH)

Extra-base hits are hits in which the batter is able to reach at least second base without the help of an error or fielder’s choice. Extra-base hits include doubles, triples, and home runs.

Walks (BB)

Walks refer to the number of times a player was allowed to advance automatically to first base after receiving four pitches that are called balls by the umpire. Also known as a “base on balls (BB).”

Intentional Walks (IBB)

Intentional walks refers to the number of times a player was deliberately walked by pitchers, usually as a means of avoiding pitching to a dangerous batter in a big spot or setting up additional force outs defensively.

Strikeouts (SO or K)

Strikeouts refer to the number of times a player received three strikes while at-bat, earning an out. A strikeout in which the player swings at and misses all three strikes is called a “swinging strikeout,” and is denoted by a standard K. A strikeout in which the player does not attempt to swing on the third strike is called a “looking strikeout,” and is recorded with a backwards K.

Runs Batted In (RBI)

Runs batted in refers to the number of times in a game that a player's hit directly resulted in a run being scored.

Batting Average (BA or AVG)

Batting average is a measure of a batter’s success at the plate. It is determined by dividing a player's total number of hits by their number of at-bats, which will come out to a number between zero and one. Batting average is expressed as a decimal written to three places (i.e., .250 or .321).

On-Base Percentage (OBP)

On-base percentage measures how often a batter reaches a base per plate appearance. Legal methods of reaching a base that are accounted for in OBP include hits, walks, and hits-by-pitches, and not errors, fielder’s choices, dropped third strikes, or sacrifice bunts or flies. OBP is calculated via the formula OBP = (Hits + Walks + Hit by Pitch) / (At Bats + Walks + Hit by Pitch + Sacrifice Flies).

Slugging Percentage (SLG)

Slugging percentage expresses the number of bases a player records per at-bat. Slugging only includes hits and does not count walks and hit-by-pitches.

On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS)

OPS combines on-base percentage and slugging in one statistic. This equally weighs a hitter’s ability to reach base against their hitting for average and power.

Doubles (2B)

Doubles are extra-base hits in which the runner reaches second base. It is important to note that runners who pick up a base hit but then proceed to second base on an error or a throw to another base in the infield are not credited with a double.

Triples (3B)

Doubles are extra-base hits in which the runner reaches third base. It is important to note that runners who pick up a double but then proceed to third base on an error or a throw to another base in the infield are not credited with a triple.

Home Runs (HR)

Home runs is the total number of home runs scored, typically over a season or career. A player records a home run when they hit a ball farther than the outfield fence and score as a result.

Total Bases (TB)

The complete number of bases gained by a batter through hits over the course of a game or a career.

Stolen Bases (SB)

Stolen bases are the number of times a baserunner advances a base he did not reach by hitting or by another batter advancing him. Bases are most commonly stolen while a pitcher is throwing a pitch. For example, if a player hits a single, he gets a stolen base if he safely reaches second while a pitch is being thrown.

Caught Stealing (CS)

The inverse of stolen bases, caught stealing (CS) represents the number of times a runner has attempted to steal a base and been thrown out. This does not include scenarios in which a runner successfully steals the next base but then attempts to reach the base after that, only to get tagged out.

Double Plays (GDP)

Double plays refers to the number of times a batter hits a ball that results in multiple outs on bases over the course of one play.

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