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

… he understood that on-base percentage was a far better tool to evaluate a hitter than batting average …

—Tom Verducci

Examples of on-base percentage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As of yesterday morning, the Padres led MLB in average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage since the All-Star break. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

Their slugging percentage is among the best in baseball, but their on-base percentage is 23rd. — David Troy, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026

Their starting rotation does not throw strikes, their bullpen is unbalanced, and no outfield in baseball boasts a lower batting average or on-base percentage. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Quietly near the top As of Tuesday, July 7, Hicks ranked among the National League’s top 20 in batting average, RBI and on-base percentage. — Tyler M. Carmona, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for on-base percentage

• centage