on-base percentage
noun
on-base per·cent·age
ˈȯn-ˈbās-pər-ˈsen-tij 
baseball
: a statistic that is expressed as a 3-digit decimal and that indicates the frequency with which a batter reaches base by a hit, a walk, or being hit by a pitch
Note: A batter with an on-base percentage of .350 has reached base 3.5 times for every 10 at bats.
Through Sunday he led the league in on-base percentage (.479) and hits (40) and was second in runs scored (21) and ninth in slugging percentage (.515).—
Ivan Maisel
Ivan Maisel… he understood that on-base percentage was a far better tool to evaluate a hitter than batting average …—Tom Verducci
Tom VerducciExamples of on-base percentage in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
No American League lineup awoke with a higher batting average, on-base percentage or weighted runs created plus in May than the Houston Astros.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Starter Austin Wells has a .268 on-base percentage and backup J.C. Escarra is hitting .175/.306/.325.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
With a career on-base percentage of .295, there was no statistical reason for Alcides Escobar to bat leadoff.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2025
His on-base percentage includes walks and being hit by pitches.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for on-base percentage
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Chandler Rome, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Starter Austin Wells has a .268 on-base percentage and backup J.C. Escarra is hitting .175/.306/.325.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
With a career on-base percentage of .295, there was no statistical reason for Alcides Escobar to bat leadoff.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2025
His on-base percentage includes walks and being hit by pitches.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for on-base percentage
Cite this Entry
“On-base percentage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on-base%20percentage. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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