at-bat
Definition
Noun: 1. An official turn to hit in baseball: In the sport of baseball, an "at-bat" (AB) is a player's official turn to bat against the pitcher. It is a statistic recorded for a batter, excluding times they reach base via a walk, hit by pitch, sacrifice, or interference. It is the primary unit for calculating a player's batting average.
Usage
- An "at-bat" is a countable statistic in a baseball game. It refers to the specific moment and opportunity a batter has to hit the ball.
- It is used with verbs like , , , , or .
- The plural form is at-bats.
Examples
- The rookie had a very successful first at-bat, hitting a double.
- He finished the game with three hits in four at-bats.
- The manager decided to pinch-hit for him in his next at-bat.
- That strikeout was his worst at-bat of the season.
Advanced Usage
- Official Scoring: In official baseball statistics, not every plate appearance counts as an "at-bat." For example, a base on balls (walk) does not count as an at-bat, so it does not negatively affect a player's batting average.
- Phrasing: The term is often used in the phrase "at the plate" to describe the action, while "at-bat" is the countable unit. For instance, "He struck out in his last at-bat" means the same as "He struck out his last time at the plate."
Variants and Related Words
- Plate Appearance (PA): A broader term that includes every time a batter comes to the plate, regardless of the outcome (including walks, sacrifices, etc.). All "at-bats" are "plate appearances," but not all "plate appearances" are "at-bats."
- Batting Average (BA or AVG): A key statistic calculated by dividing a player's total hits by their total "at-bats."
Synonyms
- Turn at bat
- Time at the plate
- Batting opportunity
Notes on Meaning
The term "at-bat" has a single, specific meaning within the context of baseball statistics. It does not have general English meanings outside of this sport.
Noun
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(baseball) a turn trying to get a hit
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he was at bat when it happened
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he got four hits in four at-bats
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