Batting average (BA) equals hits divided by at-bats. A .300 batting average means getting a hit 30% of the time. Walks, hit-by-pitches, and sacrifice flies are not counted as at-bats, so they do not affect batting average. BA is the oldest and most recognized hitting statistic in baseball.
- Formula: BA = Hits / At-Bats
- .300+ = elite hitter (All-Star level)
- .270-.299 = above average hitter
- .250-.269 = league average (2023 MLB avg: .248)
- .220-.249 = below average
- Below .200 = Mendoza Line (struggling)
| Batting Avg | Level | Historical Players | Hits per 500 AB |
|---|---|---|---|
| .350+ | Hall of Fame pace | Ty Cobb (.366 career) | 175+ |
| .300-.349 | All-Star | Ichiro (.311), Pujols (.296) | 150-175 |
| .270-.299 | Above average | Solid everyday starter | 135-150 |
| .248 | MLB average (2023) | League average hitter | 124 |
| .220-.247 | Below average | Platoon/defense-first | 110-124 |
