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
He’s opened the season with a .376 on-base percentage and has reached base (and has a hit) in 15 of his first 18 games.
—Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
The 25-year-old had a below-average on-base percentage of .308 a year ago, something A’s general manager David Forst said needs improvement.
—Jon Becker, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
Now both players will vie for time at first with LaMonte Wade, who posted a .373 on-base percentage.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
In nine career games at Milwaukee, Hoskins has batted .342 with a .405 on-base percentage, .790 slugging percentage, five homers and eight RBIs.
—Steve Megargee, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024
Last season, Vaz hit .279 with 124 hits, 32 extra-base hits, 51 RBIs and a .373 on-base percentage.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2024
His batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage have all declined in each of his four MLB seasons.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Diaz had a disappointing first season in Oakland, with career-worst numbers for average (.229), on-base percentage (.280) and slugging percentage (.337) after signing a team-high $14.5 million, 2-year free-agent contract.
—Jon Becker, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
Corey Rosier, 24, hit ,285 with 49 steals and .351 on-base percentage in the minors in 2023.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
The 25-year-old had a below-average on-base percentage of .308 a year ago, something A’s general manager David Forst said needs improvement.
—Jon Becker, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
Now both players will vie for time at first with LaMonte Wade, who posted a .373 on-base percentage.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
In nine career games at Milwaukee, Hoskins has batted .342 with a .405 on-base percentage, .790 slugging percentage, five homers and eight RBIs.
—Steve Megargee, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024
Last season, Vaz hit .279 with 124 hits, 32 extra-base hits, 51 RBIs and a .373 on-base percentage.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2024
His batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage have all declined in each of his four MLB seasons.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Diaz had a disappointing first season in Oakland, with career-worst numbers for average (.229), on-base percentage (.280) and slugging percentage (.337) after signing a team-high $14.5 million, 2-year free-agent contract.
—Jon Becker, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
Corey Rosier, 24, hit ,285 with 49 steals and .351 on-base percentage in the minors in 2023.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'on-base percentage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near 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 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share