How to Calculate At-Bats

Baseball is a game of numbers. One of the most historic numbers in the game is batting average. That figure is calculated by dividing the batter's hits by his at bats. Casual observers believe an at bat occurs any time a batter steps into the batter's box. That's called a plate appearance.

Instructions

1. Step into the batter's box and get a hit. A single, double, triple or a home run. Those are all hits and those are at bats as well.

2. When the batter strikes out it is an at bat. It is also an at bat if he hit a ground ball to an infielder and is thrown out or he hits a fly ball that is caught. However, if the batter hits a fly ball out that scores a runner from third for a sacrifice fly, the batter is not charged with an at bat.

3. If a batter lays down a bunt with a runner on first and/or second with the idea of advancing the runner to the next base as his top priority, that is called a sacrifice bunt. The batter is not charged with an at bat when he does this successfully.

4. If a batter reaches first bases on a walk (base on balls) or gets hit by a pitch, he is not charged with an at bat.

5. If a batter reaches first base when he hits a ground ball or fly ball that should have been played successfully by the fielder, he is charged with an at bat and is not credited with a base hit.

Tips & Warnings

• Most batters who play in a 9-inning baseball game will have an average of 4 at bats per game.

References

• Baseball rules