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

The 23-year-old has hit 40 home runs while raising his on-base percentage by more than 50 points. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

The Padres do lead the major leagues in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage since July 19. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 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

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