Batting Average: What Makes a Good Hitter

By Nora Kim · October 11, 2026

Batting Average Fundamentals

Batting average (AVG) is calculated as hits divided by at-bats. A .300 average has long been considered the benchmark for a good hitter, but modern analytics have revealed this metric's limitations.

What Makes a Good Batting Average

MLB Benchmarks

.300+: Excellent — top 10% of hitters
.270-.299: Above average — solid contributor
.250-.269: Average — typical MLB hitter
.230-.249: Below average — roster bubble
Below .230: Struggling — may be demoted

Youth and High School

Youth league averages tend to be higher due to variable pitching. A .400 average in Little League is good but not elite. In competitive high school baseball, .350+ is considered excellent.

Beyond Batting Average

On-base percentage (OBP) accounts for walks and hit-by-pitches, giving a more complete picture of a hitter's ability to reach base. Slugging percentage (SLG) measures power. OPS (OBP + SLG) combines both.

Modern Metrics

wOBA (weighted on-base average) and wRC+ (weighted runs created plus) are considered the best single metrics for evaluating overall hitting performance. A wRC+ of 100 is league average; 150 is 50% better than average.

The Shift Era and Batting Average

Defensive shifts reduced batting averages on ground balls by 20-30 points. With MLB's shift restrictions in 2023+, pull hitters have seen batting average improvements on balls in play.