A Comprehensive List of Baseball Acronyms

 

If you are new to a sport, learning the jargon can feel a bit overwhelming. And America’s pastime, baseball, can arguably be a little more jargon-heavy than others. Indeed, baseball lingo is littered with acronyms that can leave newbies scratching their heads.

Yet, once you get the hang of baseball acronyms, they start to make sense, and you can appreciate their usefulness. Below, we have compiled some of the more important ones. And to be honest, there are so many advanced stat acronyms that we did leave a few out. But from important pitching metrics to player positions, this baseball acronym cheat sheet with explanations should have you covered.

  • ERA: Earned Run Average. This is simply the average number of earned runs a pitcher allows per nine innings.
  • WAR: Wins Above Replacement. An all-in-one stat estimating how much value a player adds compared to a replacement-level player. Moneyball stuff.
  • RBI: Runs Batted In. The number of runs a player drives in with their at-bats.
  • AVG: Batting Average. The rate of hits per official at-bat.
  • OBP:  On-Base Percentage. How often a player reaches base by hit, walk, or hit-by-pitch.
  • SLG: Slugging Percentage. A measure of hitting power based on total bases per at-bat. Important for power hitters.
  • OPS: On-base Plus Slugging. This one combines OBP and SLG to show overall offensive production.
  • K: Strikeout. Used in scorekeeping and stats for a batter retired on strikes.
  • BB: Base on Balls. Another term for a walk, i.e., when the pitcher has missed the strike zone four times and allows the batter to walk to 1st base.
  • HBP: Hit By Pitch. When a batter is awarded first base after being struck on the body by a pitch.
  • AB: At-Bat. A plate appearance that counts toward batting average.
  • PA: Plate Appearance. Basically, every completed turn a batter takes at the plate.
  • H: Hits. The total number of singles, doubles, triples, and home runs.
  • 1B: Single; a one-base hit.
  • 2B: Double; a hit that allows the batter to reach second base safely.
  • 3B: Triple; a hit that allows the batter to reach third base safely.
  • HR: Home Run. A hit that lets the batter score immediately, usually by clearing the fence.
  • R: Runs: The number of times a player scores.
  • SB: Stolen Base. When a runner advances a base while the pitcher is delivering the ball.
  • CS: Caught Stealing. When a runner is thrown out trying to steal a base.
  • TB: Total Bases: The combined number of bases earned from hits.
  • LOB: Left On Base. The number of runners a team strands without scoring.
  • SO: Strikeouts. Another common abbreviation for strikeouts (Ks), especially in box scores.
  • WHIP: Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched; shows how many baserunners a pitcher allows per inning.
  • IP: Innings Pitched; the number of innings a pitcher has completed.
  • ERA+: Adjusted Earned Run Average. ERA adjusted for league and ballpark, where 100 is average. A handy metric when assessing MLB game lines for sports betting.
  • QS: Quality Start. When a starting pitcher throws at least six innings and allows three earned runs or fewer. An important metric.
  • SV: Save. A save is credited to a reliever who finishes a win in certain pressure situations.
  • BS: Blown Save. When a reliever loses a save opportunity by allowing the tying or go-ahead run. An unwanted statistic.
  • CG: Complete Game. When a pitcher throws the entire game for their team.
  • SHO: Shutout. A complete game in which the pitcher allows no runs. There are different types of shutouts. A no-hitter is when the pitcher throws a complete game allowing no hits. A perfect game is when nobody gets on base – no hits, walks etc.
  • DP: Double Play. A defensive play that records two outs in one sequence.
  • FPCT: Fielding Percentage. This measures how often a fielder makes plays without errors.

  • DRS: Defensive Runs Saved. This estimates how many runs a player saves or costs his team on defense.
  • RC:  Runs Created. An estimate of how many runs a player contributes offensively.
  • SP: Starting Pitcher; a pitcher who begins the game.
  • RP: Relief Pitcher; a pitcher who comes in after the starter.
  • CP: Closing Pitcher or Closer. The reliever typically used to finish tight games.
  • DH: Designated Hitter. A player who bats in place of the pitcher. The National League does not have DHs, whereas the American League does.
  • C: Catcher. The defensive player behind home plate.
  • 1B: First Baseman. The infielder stationed at first base.
  • 2B: Second Baseman. The infielder stationed at second base.
  • 3B: Third Baseman. The infielder stationed at third base.
  • SS: Shortstop. The infielder between second and third base.
  • LF: Left Fielder. The outfielder in left field.
  • CF: Center Fielder. The outfielder in center field.
  • RF: Right Fielder. The outfielder in right field.