Baseball Batting Average Calculator

Compute BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, OPS+ and BABIP — all in one place

Formula: BA = Hits ÷ At-Bats  ·  displayed as .XXX

Quick Formulas Reference

BA = H / AB
OBP = (H + BB + HBP) / (AB + BB + HBP + SF)
SLG = TB / AB
OPS = OBP + SLG
OPS+ = 100 × (OBP/lgOBP + SLG/lgSLG − 1)
BABIP = (H − HR) / (AB − K − HR + SF)

TB = 1B×1 + 2B×2 + 3B×3 + HR×4  |  1B = H − 2B − 3B − HR  |  League averages: lgOBP = .320, lgSLG = .410

Baseball Batting Statistics Explained

Baseball is a statistics-rich sport, and batting statistics provide deep insight into an offensive player's true value. The six metrics calculated here — BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, OPS+, and BABIP — are the core language of modern baseball analysis, used by scouts, front offices, broadcasters, and fans alike.

Batting Average (BA)

Batting average is the oldest and most recognizable batting statistic. It measures simply how often a player gets a hit when they come to the plate for an official at bat. A batter with 150 hits in 500 at bats has a batting average of .300. Walks, hit-by-pitches, and sacrifice flies do not count as official at bats, which is why BA alone does not capture a player's full offensive contribution.

On-Base Percentage (OBP)

On-base percentage captures how often a batter reaches base by any means — hits, walks, or hit-by-pitches. Because reaching base is the single most important act for any hitter (you cannot score if you are not on base), OBP is considered by many analysts to be a more valuable measure of offensive worth than batting average alone. The denominator includes at bats, walks, hit-by-pitches, and sacrifice flies.

Slugging Percentage (SLG)

Slugging percentage measures the raw power of a hitter by crediting extra-base hits more than singles. It divides total bases (where singles = 1 base, doubles = 2, triples = 3, home runs = 4) by at bats. A player who hits exclusively singles will have a slugging percentage equal to their batting average, while a power hitter who drives the ball for extra bases will have a slugging percentage far above their BA.

OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging)

OPS combines on-base percentage and slugging percentage into a single number that captures both a player's ability to reach base and their ability to hit for power and extra bases. Despite being a simple addition, OPS has proven to be one of the most accurate single-number predictors of a batter's offensive contribution to run production. An OPS above .900 marks an elite, All-Star-caliber season.

OPS+ (Adjusted OPS)

OPS+ adjusts a player's OPS for ballpark and era effects, normalized to a league average of 100. An OPS+ of 130 means the player performed 30% better than the league average after adjusting for park factors. This makes it easy to compare players across different ballparks and different eras of the game.

BABIP (Batting Average on Balls In Play)

BABIP measures how often a batted ball that stays in the field of play (excluding home runs) results in a hit. The league average BABIP hovers around .300. A player with an unusually high BABIP (.360+) may be experiencing good fortune that is unlikely to continue, while a very low BABIP (.250 or less) may indicate bad luck. BABIP is a valuable tool for projecting regression to the mean.

Formulas and Variable Definitions

Complete Formula List

Stat Formula Notes
BAH / ABDisplayed as .XXX (3 decimal places)
OBP(H + BB + HBP) / (AB + BB + HBP + SF)Excludes sac bunts from denominator
TB1B + 2×2B + 3×3B + 4×HR1B = H − 2B − 3B − HR
SLGTB / ABCan exceed 1.000 for elite power hitters
OPSOBP + SLGSimple sum of the two percentages
OPS+100 × (OBP/lgOBP + SLG/lgSLG − 1)lgOBP = .320, lgSLG = .410
BABIP(H − HR) / (AB − K − HR + SF)Requires K and SF to compute

Performance Benchmarks

The following benchmarks reflect MLB standards for a full season of play:

RatingBAOBPSLGOPS
Elite.300+.380+.500+.900+
Above Average.280–.299.350–.379.450–.499.800–.899
Average.260–.279.320–.349.400–.449.700–.799
Below Average<.250<.320<.400<.700

Historical Context

In baseball, the .300 batting average has long been the gold standard separating good hitters from great ones. Achieving a .300 average over a full major league season places a batter among the premier contact hitters in the game. The milestone has been revered since the sport's earliest professional era and remains a headline-worthy achievement in the modern game.

The evolution of statistical analysis has expanded beyond batting average. The sabermetric revolution, popularized in the early 2000s, shifted emphasis toward OBP and OPS as superior measures of offensive value. Today, front offices use Weighted On-Base Average (wOBA), Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+), and other advanced metrics, but BA, OBP, SLG, and OPS remain the foundational language of everyday baseball discussion.

The concept of park-adjusted statistics like OPS+ acknowledges that a .300 average at Coors Field in Denver (where the high altitude and dry air benefits hitters) is not equivalent to a .300 average at Oracle Park in San Francisco (a pitcher-friendly environment). Adjusting for these factors gives a more honest picture of a player's true ability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is batting average in baseball?
Batting average (BA) is the ratio of a batter's hits to their total at bats, expressed as a three-decimal number. It is calculated as Hits divided by At Bats. For example, a player with 150 hits in 500 at bats has a batting average of .300. It is the most fundamental offensive statistic in baseball and has been tracked since the 19th century.
What is a good batting average in baseball?
A .300 batting average is widely considered the gold standard of hitting excellence in Major League Baseball. A .280–.299 average is above average, .260–.279 is considered average for a major leaguer, and anything below .250 is generally regarded as below average. League average BA in the modern era typically hovers around .250–.260, so batting .280 already places a hitter well above the typical player.
What is OPS in baseball?
OPS stands for On-base Plus Slugging. It combines on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG) into a single number: OPS = OBP + SLG. An OPS above .900 is considered elite, .800–.899 is above average, .700–.799 is average, and below .700 is below average. OPS is widely regarded as one of the best simple indicators of a hitter's total offensive value because it weighs both the ability to get on base and the ability to hit for power.
What is BABIP and why does it matter?
BABIP stands for Batting Average on Balls In Play. It measures how often a ball put into the field of play falls for a hit, excluding home runs and strikeouts. The formula is (H − HR) / (AB − K − HR + SF). The league average BABIP is typically around .300. An unusually high or low BABIP often indicates a stretch of good or bad luck that may not continue. It is one of the most important tools for identifying when a player's batting average is due for regression toward their true ability level.
How is slugging percentage calculated in baseball?
Slugging percentage (SLG) measures the total bases a player earns per at bat. The formula is Total Bases divided by At Bats. Total Bases = (Singles × 1) + (Doubles × 2) + (Triples × 3) + (Home Runs × 4). Singles are calculated as Hits minus Doubles, Triples, and Home Runs. A slugging percentage above .500 is considered excellent, and above .600 marks an elite power hitter. Unlike batting average, SLG properly rewards players who hit the ball for extra bases.