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
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Despite the power outage, De La Cruz had hit .310 with a .395 on-base percentage during that span dating back to June 24.
—David O'Brien, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
The 33-year-old seven-time All-Star was on his way to an all-time great season when the elbow injury struck, leading the league in batting average (.342), on-base percentage (.449), slugging (.711), OPS (1.160) as well as walks (73), runs scored (90) and WAR (6.6).
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
Nick Kurtz came into the game ranking first among rookies in home runs (23), RBI (59), on-base percentage (.378), extra-base hits (43), OPS (1.061) and slugging (.683).
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2025
This year, Judge is leading the majors in batting average (.342), on-base percentage (.449), slugging percentage (.711), OPS (1.160) and hits (129).
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 27 July 2025
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David O'Brien, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
The 33-year-old seven-time All-Star was on his way to an all-time great season when the elbow injury struck, leading the league in batting average (.342), on-base percentage (.449), slugging (.711), OPS (1.160) as well as walks (73), runs scored (90) and WAR (6.6).
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
Nick Kurtz came into the game ranking first among rookies in home runs (23), RBI (59), on-base percentage (.378), extra-base hits (43), OPS (1.061) and slugging (.683).
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2025
This year, Judge is leading the majors in batting average (.342), on-base percentage (.449), slugging percentage (.711), OPS (1.160) and hits (129).
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 27 July 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 19 Aug. 2025.
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