Baseball Stats Explained - 50 Key Metrics You Need to Know - Wax Pack Gods (2024)

Posted by Adam Hughes | Baseball Statistics | 0 |

• At-bats (AB) — The number of times a batter comes to the plate and the appearance does not end in a walk, hit by pitch, or sacrifice bunt or fly.
• At-bats per home run (AB/HR) — The number of at-bats a player has divided by the number of home runs he hits. AB/HR is a rough measure of a hitter’s power.
• Batting average — The number of hits divided by the number of at-bats, expressed as a decimal to three places (e.g., .300).
• Batting average on balls in play (BABIP) — A statistic that measures a player’s batting average only on balls hit into play, excluding home runs and strikeouts.
• Defensive runs above average (DEF) — A statistic that measures the number of runs a player saves on defense compared to an average player at his position.
• Defensive runs saved (DRS) — A statistic that measures the number of runs a player saves on defense compared to the average player.
• Doubles — The number of times a batter hits a ball that allows him to reach second base safely.
• Earned run average (ERA) — The average number of earned runs a pitcher gives up per nine innings pitched.
• Errors — The number of mistakes made by a defensive player that result in the batter reaching base safely or a runner advancing safely.
• Fielding independent pitching (FIP) — A statistic that measures a pitcher’s performance independent of the performance of his defense and luck.
• Fielding percentage — The percentage of defensive chances (putouts and assists) a player successfully converts into outs.
• Games played — The number of games a player has appeared in.
• Games started — The number of games a player has started.
• Ground ball/fly ball ratio (GB/FB) — The ratio of ground balls hit against a pitcher to fly balls hit against a pitcher.
• Hits — The number of times a batter successfully reaches first base or beyond after hitting a fair ball.
• Hits allowed per nine innings (H/9) — The average number of hits a pitcher allows per nine innings pitched.
• Home runs — The number of times a batter hits a ball over the outfield fence in fair territory.
• Innings pitched (IP) — The number of innings a pitcher throws.
• Intentional walks — The number of times a pitcher intentionally throws four pitches outside the strike zone to walk a batter.
• Isolated power (ISO) — A statistic that measures a batter’s raw power by subtracting batting average from slugging percentage.
• On-base percentage (OBP) — The number of times a batter reaches base (excluding errors, fielder’s choice, and catcher’s interference) divided by his total plate appearances.
• On-base plus slugging (OPS) — A simple heuristic statistic for measuring a batter’s performance, OPS is calculated by adding on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
• Opponents’ batting average (OBA) — The average batting average of hitters faced by a pitcher.
• Plate appearances — The number of times a player comes to the plate, including walks, hit by pitch, outs, and sacrifice bunts or flies.
• Quality starts — A statistic that measures the number of times a starting pitcher completes at least six innings while allowing three or fewer earned runs.
• Range factor — A statistic that measures a fielder’s range by dividing putouts and assists by the number of innings played.
• Runs batted in (RBI) — The number of runs scored as a result of a batter’s plate appearance.
• Runs created — A statistic that measures a player’s overall offensive production by combining various hitting statistics.
• Runs scored — The number of times a player crosses home plate to score a run.
• Saves — The number of games a relief pitcher finishes, which his team wins, and for which the pitcher is not credited with a win — under certain circ*mstances, such as the pitcher entering with a lead and holding that lead.
• Slugging percentage (SLG) — The total number of bases a player reaches divided by the number of at-bats.
• Strikeouts (SO) — The number of times a pitcher throws three strikes to a batter to record an out in an at-bat.
• Strikeouts per nine innings (K/9) — The average number of strikeouts a pitcher records per nine innings pitched.
• Stolen bases (SB) — The number of times a baserunner successfully steals a base.
• Strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB) — A measure of a pitcher’s command and control, calculated by dividing the number of strikeouts by the number of walks.
• Total chances — The sum of putouts, assists, and errors made by a defensive player, total chances measures how many times a fielder attempts to make a play.
• Total bases (TB) — The sum of a player’s hits, including one base for each single, two bases for each double, three bases for each triple, and four bases for each home run.
• Triples — The number of times a batter hits a ball that allows him to reach third base safely.
• Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) — A statistic that measures the number of runs a fielder saves or costs his team compared to an average fielder at his position.
• Walks (BB) — The number of times a pitcher throws four pitches outside the strike zone to a batter, resulting in the batter being awarded first base.
• Walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP) — A statistic that measures the number of walks and hits allowed by a pitcher per inning pitched.
• Weighted on-base average (wOBA) — A statistic that measures a player’s overall offensive value by weighting different types of plate appearances based on their run-scoring potential.
• Wins — The number of games a pitcher is credited with winning, regardless of his individual performance.
• Wins above replacement (WAR) — A statistic that measures a player’s overall value compared to a replacement-level player at his position.
• Win-loss percentage (W-L%) — The percentage of games a pitcher has won compared to the number of total decisions he has been credited with (decisions = wins + losses).
• Walk-to-strikeout ratio (BB/K) — The number of walks a batter collects divided by the number of strikeouts he puts up. This is a measure of a batter’s plate discipline.
• Wild pitches — The number of times a pitcher throws a pitch that is so far off target that the catcher cannot catch it and a baserunner advances (if there is a baserunner).
• Zone rating (ZR) — A statistic that measures a fielder’s range by dividing the number of plays he makes in his “zone” (the area for which he is responsible) by the number of balls hit into his zone.

(You can find official statistics definitions at MLB.com.)

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