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
Since joining the Cubs in a surprising trade with the Houston Astros this past winter, Tucker has led the team in runs, on-base percentage and on-base plus slugging percentage.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Entering Tuesday night, San Francisco ranked last in the majors in batting average (.209), on-base percentage (.275) and slugging percentage (.340) against lefties.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2025
Freeman, who put down a perfect bunt down the third baseline for a single in the fifth, is hitting .304 with a .380 on-base percentage.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025
In spite of their pitching problems and low on-base percentage, the Angels have remained in the playoff picture.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
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Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Entering Tuesday night, San Francisco ranked last in the majors in batting average (.209), on-base percentage (.275) and slugging percentage (.340) against lefties.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2025
Freeman, who put down a perfect bunt down the third baseline for a single in the fifth, is hitting .304 with a .380 on-base percentage.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025
In spite of their pitching problems and low on-base percentage, the Angels have remained in the playoff picture.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 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 16 Sep. 2025.
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