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At-bat

In baseball statistics, an at bat (AB) is used to calculate other data such as batting average. A player has an at bat every time he comes to bat except under the following circumstances:

• He receives a base on balls (BB).
• He is hit by pitch (HBP).
• He hits a sacrifice fly or a sacrifice bunt.
• He is awarded first base due to interference or obstruction.
• The inning ends while he is still at bat (due to the third out being made by a runner caught stealing, for example).

Examples

An at bat can occur when the batter

• Reaches first base on a hit
• Reaches first base on an error
• Is called out for any reason
• A Fielder's choice
• Other less common circumstances

At bat as a phrase

"At bat", "up", "up at bat" and "at the plate", are phrases in baseball describing someone that is facing the pitcher. Interestingly, just because a player is "at bat" does not mean he will be given an at bat in his statistics, and in fact just signifies a plate appearance.