173:, finished the season with a league-high .346 batting average, but he had only 501 plate appearances, one short of the required 502. Per the rule, he would have won the batting title because after an extra at bat is added and his batting average recalculated, he still would have led the league in batting average. Cabrera's case, however, turned out differently. The reason Cabrera finished the season with only 501 plate appearances was because he was suspended in mid-August when he tested positive for illegal
1690:
20:
1702:
326:, defined in Rule 9.02(a)(1), but sometimes uses the phrase "official time at bat" or refers back to Rule 9.02(a)(1) when mentioning the statistic. The phrase "plate appearance" is used in Rules 9.22 and 9.23 dealing with batting titles and hitting streaks, and in Rule 5.10(g) Comment in relation to the Three-Batter Minimum: "o qualify as one of three consecutive batters, the batter must complete his
177:. Cabrera was still eligible for that extra at bat, but he requested that the extra at bat not be added to his total, and that he not be considered for the batting crown, because he admitted that his use of performance-enhancing drugs had given him an unfair advantage over other players. As a result, Cabrera's name is nowhere to be found on the list of 2012 National League batting leaders.
1714:
132:
batting average. Player B, even though he had the same amount of at bats as Player A and even though his batting average is higher, will not be eligible for certain percentage-based season-ending rankings because he did not accumulate the required 502 plate appearances, while Player A did and therefore will be eligible. There is, however, an exception:
317:
when he is put out or becomes a runner" (emphasis added). The "time at bat" defined in this rule is more commonly referred to as a plate appearance, and the playing rules (Rules 1 through 8) uses the phrase "time at bat" in this sense (e.g. Rule 5.04(a)(3), which states that "he first batter in each
161:
In the example above, Player B is 12 plate appearances short of the required 502, but were he be charged with 12 additional unproductive at bats, he would go 110-for-412 for a batting average of .267. If no one else has a batting average (similarly modified if appropriate) higher than .267, player B
227:
after having already started his turn at bat. Under Rule 9.15(b), the pinch hitter would receive the plate appearance (and potential of an at-bat) unless the original batter is replaced when having 2 strikes against him and the pinch hitter subsequently completes the strikeout, in which case the
131:
For example, Player A gets 100 hits in 400 at bats over 510 plate appearances, which works out to a .250 batting average (equivalent to one hit in every four at-bats). Alternatively, Player B gets 110 hits in 400 at bats over 490 plate appearances during the same season, finishing with a .275
345:
By rule, certain plate appearances, such as times reached base via either catcher's interference or fielder's obstruction or sacrifice bunts, are excluded from it, leaving the denominator determined instead as the sum of at-bats, walks, hit-by-pitches, and sacrifice flies. And the numerator
124:, this number is 3.1 plate appearances multiplied by the number of scheduled games in a season, rounded up or down to the nearest whole number. As of 2024, with a 162-game regular season, this means 502 plate appearances are required to qualify. A lesser criterion applies in the
1202:
120:. However, starting in 1957, at season's end a player must have accumulated a minimum number of plate appearances during a season to be ranked as a league-leader in certain statistical categories. For batting championships in
358:
Plate appearances are used by scorers for "proving" a box score. Under Rule 9.03(c), the following two items should be equal for each team, because each is equal to the team's total number of plate appearances:
185:
A batter is not credited with a plate appearance if, while batting, a preceding runner is put out on the basepaths for the third out in a way other than by the batter putting the ball into play (i.e.,
380:
144:
make a single allowance to the minimum requirement of 502 plate appearances for the purposes of determining the batting, slugging or on-base percentage title. If a player:
154:
would still lead the league in that statistic if as many at bats (without hits or reaching base) were added to his records as necessary to meet the requirement,
429:
363:
The sum of the team's at bats, walks, hit by pitches, sacrifices (both bunts and flies), and times awarded first base on interference or obstruction.
791:
619:
285:
alive"). The intent is usually clear from the context, although the term "official at bat" is sometimes used to explicitly refer to an
330:, which ends only when the batter is put out or becomes a runner." (emphasis added) The term is not elsewhere defined in the rulebook.
514:
281:
In common parlance, the term "at bat" is sometimes used to mean "plate appearance" (for example, "he fouled off the ball to keep the
423:
1717:
322:
in the preceding inning" (emphasis added)). In contrast, the scoring rules uses the phrase "time at bat" to refer to the statistic
204:
A batter is not credited with a plate appearance if, while batting, the game ends as the winning run scores from third base on a
342:(OBP), an alternative measurement of a player's offensive performance, but are not the only one in determining its denominator.
223:
A batter may or may not be credited with a plate appearance (and possibly at bat) in the rare instance when he is replaced by a
718:
78:
which causes a preceding runner to be put out for the third out before he himself is put out or reaches first base safely (
162:
will be awarded the batting title (with his original batting average of .275) despite the lack of 502 plate appearances.
194:
318:
inning after the first inning shall be the player whose name follows that of the last player who legally completed his
1740:
609:
174:
1608:
544:
113:
1217:
67:
410:
994:
934:
807:
477:
1603:
1505:
1385:
1237:
902:
584:
270:
141:
43:
1673:
1638:
1618:
1545:
1450:
1400:
1355:
1340:
969:
507:
274:
71:
1628:
1552:
1380:
1297:
1190:
989:
979:
125:
121:
1593:
1412:
614:
170:
1643:
1583:
1465:
1081:
1026:
1004:
882:
653:
564:
538:
117:
94:
86:
1701:
1430:
1272:
1227:
1175:
954:
909:
849:
829:
624:
446:
339:
46:, a player completes a turn batting when he is put out or becomes a runner. This happens when he
158:
he will win that title, but with his original statistic (before the extra at bats were added).
1693:
1633:
1623:
1510:
1485:
1425:
1252:
1170:
1091:
1066:
999:
929:
924:
781:
756:
678:
500:
419:
198:
19:
1495:
1460:
1435:
1375:
1370:
1212:
1110:
1106:
1009:
877:
786:
766:
629:
574:
1705:
1470:
1445:
1440:
1365:
1335:
1207:
1143:
1133:
949:
887:
726:
481:
190:
55:
668:
663:
1666:
1653:
1490:
1277:
1185:
1051:
1021:
964:
919:
892:
862:
834:
824:
761:
746:
658:
645:
604:
594:
559:
245:
193:). In this case, the same batter continues his turn batting in the next inning with no
51:
1734:
1661:
1648:
1578:
1500:
1302:
1128:
1096:
1086:
1061:
914:
817:
741:
708:
347:
256:
249:
166:
59:
23:
1613:
1588:
1350:
1330:
1317:
1180:
1155:
1036:
974:
839:
751:
736:
731:
569:
367:
263:
224:
82:
63:
492:
1540:
1515:
1455:
1420:
1390:
1292:
1262:
1247:
1222:
1076:
1056:
1016:
872:
599:
589:
313:
Official
Baseball Rule 5.06(c) provides that " batter has legally completed his
217:
209:
1562:
1557:
1480:
1475:
1307:
1197:
1160:
1031:
776:
213:
90:
101:, counts a subset of plate appearances that end under certain circumstances.
1598:
1287:
1267:
1232:
1150:
1071:
959:
939:
897:
771:
688:
683:
579:
75:
47:
1345:
1282:
1257:
1165:
1138:
1123:
984:
944:
867:
703:
641:
527:
523:
31:
1535:
1530:
1520:
1360:
1242:
1041:
698:
693:
673:
186:
109:
350:(composed of the sum of hits, base on balls, and times hit by pitch).
1525:
1395:
857:
812:
323:
237:
98:
474:
42:) each time he completes a turn batting. Under Rule 5.04(c) of the
18:
473:
Baseball
Explained by Phillip Mahony. McFarland Books, 2014. See
26:
holds the single season record for most plate appearances, at 778
1325:
1118:
205:
496:
240:
results from a completed plate appearance, unless the batter:
381:
List of Major League
Baseball career plate appearance leaders
228:
plate appearance and at-bat are charged to the first batter.
128:, with 2.7 plate appearances per game required to qualify.
54:
before reaching first base; or when he reaches first base
338:
Plate appearances are a primary component in calculating
112:- rather than plate appearances - are used to calculate
151:
does not have the required 502 plate appearances; and
1571:
1409:
1316:
1105:
848:
800:
717:
640:
552:
418:(2018 ed.). Commissioner of Baseball. 2018.
508:
8:
236:Under Official Baseball Rule 9.02(a)(1), an
515:
501:
493:
148:leads the league in one of the statistics;
469:
467:
391:
7:
405:
403:
401:
399:
397:
395:
366:The sum of the team's runs, runners
1713:
620:Comparison of baseball and softball
14:
269:is awarded first base because of
165:In a real-life example, in 2012,
1712:
1700:
1689:
1688:
435:from the original on 2022-10-09.
105:Use as batting record qualifier
58:or is awarded first base (by a
34:, a player is credited with a
1:
375:Major League Baseball leaders
309:"Time at bat" in the rulebook
136:Exception for batting titles
175:performance-enhancing drugs
1757:
378:
346:represented by a batter's
1682:
535:
475:www.baseballexplained.com
447:"Baseball-Reference FAQs"
293:. However, terms such as
255:is awarded first base on
289:as distinguished from a
412:Official Baseball Rules
142:Official Baseball Rules
44:Official Baseball Rules
1674:Variations of baseball
1639:Seventh-inning stretch
1619:List of baseball films
1451:Defensive indifference
1401:Tie goes to the runner
451:Baseball-Reference.com
68:catcher's interference
27:
1553:Uncaught third strike
1298:Striking out the side
980:Hitting for the cycle
334:In on-base percentage
264:hit by a pitched ball
74:); or when he hits a
22:
1594:Bench-clearing brawl
883:Batting out of order
301:are synonymous with
171:San Francisco Giants
140:Rule 9.22(a) of the
118:slugging percentages
1584:Baseball statistics
1027:Lefty-righty switch
1741:Batting statistics
1431:Blocking the plate
955:Ground rule double
910:Charging the mound
625:fastpitch softball
480:2014-08-13 at the
370:, and men put out.
340:on-base percentage
232:Relation to at bat
95:baseball statistic
93:). A very similar
28:
16:Baseball statistic
1728:
1727:
1511:Neighborhood play
1486:Hidden ball trick
1253:Pitching position
1203:Immaculate inning
925:Designated hitter
560:Rules of baseball
257:four called balls
1748:
1716:
1715:
1704:
1692:
1691:
1496:Infield fly rule
1466:Fielder's choice
1371:Scoring position
1218:Intentional walk
1213:Intentional balk
1047:Plate appearance
767:Pitching machine
659:Baseball diamond
630:16-inch softball
575:Infield fly rule
517:
510:
503:
494:
484:
471:
462:
461:
459:
457:
443:
437:
436:
434:
417:
407:
328:plate appearance
303:plate appearance
291:plate appearance
114:batting averages
87:fielder's choice
36:plate appearance
1756:
1755:
1751:
1750:
1749:
1747:
1746:
1745:
1731:
1730:
1729:
1724:
1723:
1678:
1567:
1471:Fifth infielder
1446:Covering a base
1441:Caught stealing
1411:
1405:
1336:Caught stealing
1312:
1208:Inside pitching
1144:Vulcan changeup
1134:Brushback pitch
1109:
1101:
995:Inside-the-park
950:Golden sombrero
844:
796:
762:Glove (defense)
713:
636:
610:Unwritten rules
548:
531:
521:
490:
488:
487:
482:Wayback Machine
472:
465:
455:
453:
445:
444:
440:
432:
426:
415:
409:
408:
393:
388:
383:
377:
356:
336:
311:
234:
191:caught stealing
183:
138:
107:
50:or is declared
17:
12:
11:
5:
1754:
1752:
1744:
1743:
1733:
1732:
1726:
1725:
1722:
1721:
1709:
1697:
1684:
1683:
1680:
1679:
1677:
1676:
1671:
1670:
1669:
1664:
1656:
1651:
1646:
1641:
1636:
1631:
1626:
1621:
1616:
1611:
1606:
1601:
1596:
1591:
1586:
1581:
1575:
1573:
1569:
1568:
1566:
1565:
1560:
1555:
1550:
1549:
1548:
1538:
1533:
1528:
1523:
1518:
1513:
1508:
1503:
1498:
1493:
1491:In-between hop
1488:
1483:
1478:
1473:
1468:
1463:
1458:
1453:
1448:
1443:
1438:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1417:
1415:
1407:
1406:
1404:
1403:
1398:
1393:
1388:
1383:
1378:
1373:
1368:
1363:
1358:
1353:
1348:
1343:
1338:
1333:
1328:
1322:
1320:
1314:
1313:
1311:
1310:
1305:
1300:
1295:
1290:
1285:
1280:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1255:
1250:
1245:
1240:
1235:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1210:
1205:
1200:
1195:
1194:
1193:
1188:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1148:
1147:
1146:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1115:
1113:
1103:
1102:
1100:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1074:
1069:
1064:
1059:
1054:
1052:Platoon system
1049:
1044:
1039:
1034:
1029:
1024:
1022:Leadoff hitter
1019:
1014:
1013:
1012:
1007:
1002:
997:
992:
982:
977:
972:
967:
962:
957:
952:
947:
942:
937:
932:
927:
922:
920:Cleanup hitter
917:
912:
907:
906:
905:
900:
895:
893:sacrifice bunt
885:
880:
875:
870:
865:
863:Baltimore chop
860:
854:
852:
846:
845:
843:
842:
837:
832:
827:
822:
821:
820:
810:
804:
802:
798:
797:
795:
794:
792:Uniform number
789:
784:
779:
774:
772:Protective cup
769:
764:
759:
754:
749:
747:Batting helmet
744:
739:
734:
729:
723:
721:
715:
714:
712:
711:
706:
701:
699:On-deck circle
696:
691:
689:Foul territory
686:
681:
676:
671:
666:
661:
656:
650:
648:
638:
637:
635:
634:
633:
632:
627:
617:
612:
607:
605:Suspended game
602:
597:
595:Protested game
592:
587:
582:
577:
572:
567:
562:
556:
554:
550:
549:
536:
533:
532:
522:
520:
519:
512:
505:
497:
486:
485:
463:
438:
424:
390:
389:
387:
384:
379:Main article:
376:
373:
372:
371:
364:
355:
352:
335:
332:
310:
307:
279:
278:
267:
260:
253:
246:sacrifice bunt
233:
230:
182:
179:
169:, then of the
156:
155:
152:
149:
137:
134:
106:
103:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1753:
1742:
1739:
1738:
1736:
1720:
1719:
1710:
1708:
1707:
1703:
1698:
1696:
1695:
1686:
1685:
1681:
1675:
1672:
1668:
1665:
1663:
1660:
1659:
1657:
1655:
1652:
1650:
1649:Sign stealing
1647:
1645:
1642:
1640:
1637:
1635:
1632:
1630:
1627:
1625:
1622:
1620:
1617:
1615:
1612:
1610:
1607:
1605:
1602:
1600:
1597:
1595:
1592:
1590:
1587:
1585:
1582:
1580:
1579:Baseball card
1577:
1576:
1574:
1570:
1564:
1561:
1559:
1556:
1554:
1551:
1547:
1544:
1543:
1542:
1539:
1537:
1534:
1532:
1529:
1527:
1524:
1522:
1519:
1517:
1514:
1512:
1509:
1507:
1504:
1502:
1501:Infield shift
1499:
1497:
1494:
1492:
1489:
1487:
1484:
1482:
1479:
1477:
1474:
1472:
1469:
1467:
1464:
1462:
1459:
1457:
1454:
1452:
1449:
1447:
1444:
1442:
1439:
1437:
1434:
1432:
1429:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1418:
1416:
1414:
1413:(positioning)
1408:
1402:
1399:
1397:
1394:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1377:
1374:
1372:
1369:
1367:
1364:
1362:
1359:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1347:
1344:
1342:
1339:
1337:
1334:
1332:
1329:
1327:
1324:
1323:
1321:
1319:
1315:
1309:
1306:
1304:
1303:Time of pitch
1301:
1299:
1296:
1294:
1291:
1289:
1286:
1284:
1281:
1279:
1276:
1274:
1271:
1269:
1266:
1264:
1261:
1259:
1256:
1254:
1251:
1249:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1199:
1196:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1168:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1145:
1142:
1141:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1129:Breaking ball
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1116:
1114:
1112:
1108:
1104:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1087:Switch hitter
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1063:
1062:Sacrifice fly
1060:
1058:
1055:
1053:
1050:
1048:
1045:
1043:
1040:
1038:
1035:
1033:
1030:
1028:
1025:
1023:
1020:
1018:
1015:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
991:
988:
987:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
971:
968:
966:
963:
961:
958:
956:
953:
951:
948:
946:
943:
941:
938:
936:
935:Double switch
933:
931:
928:
926:
923:
921:
918:
916:
915:Checked swing
913:
911:
908:
904:
901:
899:
896:
894:
891:
890:
889:
886:
884:
881:
879:
878:Batting count
876:
874:
871:
869:
866:
864:
861:
859:
856:
855:
853:
851:
847:
841:
838:
836:
833:
831:
828:
826:
823:
819:
818:extra innings
816:
815:
814:
811:
809:
808:Batting order
806:
805:
803:
799:
793:
790:
788:
785:
783:
780:
778:
775:
773:
770:
768:
765:
763:
760:
758:
755:
753:
750:
748:
745:
743:
742:Batting glove
740:
738:
735:
733:
730:
728:
725:
724:
722:
720:
716:
710:
709:Warning track
707:
705:
702:
700:
697:
695:
692:
690:
687:
685:
682:
680:
677:
675:
672:
670:
667:
665:
662:
660:
657:
655:
652:
651:
649:
647:
643:
639:
631:
628:
626:
623:
622:
621:
618:
616:
613:
611:
608:
606:
603:
601:
598:
596:
593:
591:
588:
586:
583:
581:
578:
576:
573:
571:
568:
566:
563:
561:
558:
557:
555:
551:
547:
546:
541:
540:
534:
529:
525:
518:
513:
511:
506:
504:
499:
498:
495:
491:
483:
479:
476:
470:
468:
464:
452:
448:
442:
439:
431:
427:
425:9780996114066
421:
414:
413:
406:
404:
402:
400:
398:
396:
392:
385:
382:
374:
369:
365:
362:
361:
360:
353:
351:
349:
348:times on base
343:
341:
333:
331:
329:
325:
321:
316:
308:
306:
304:
300:
296:
292:
288:
284:
276:
272:
268:
265:
261:
258:
254:
251:
250:sacrifice fly
247:
243:
242:
241:
239:
231:
229:
226:
221:
219:
215:
211:
207:
202:
201:against him.
200:
196:
192:
188:
180:
178:
176:
172:
168:
167:Melky Cabrera
163:
159:
153:
150:
147:
146:
145:
143:
135:
133:
129:
127:
126:minor leagues
123:
119:
115:
111:
104:
102:
100:
96:
92:
88:
84:
81:
77:
73:
69:
65:
61:
60:base on balls
57:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
33:
25:
24:Jimmy Rollins
21:
1711:
1699:
1687:
1629:Scorekeeping
1614:Injured list
1604:Doubleheader
1589:Bench jockey
1506:Interference
1386:Squeeze play
1351:Left on base
1331:Bases loaded
1318:Base running
1238:Perfect game
1191:split-finger
1046:
1037:Mendoza Line
975:Hit by pitch
903:squeeze play
840:Pace of play
801:Game process
737:Batting cage
669:Batter's eye
664:Batter's box
585:Interference
570:Ground rules
543:
537:
489:
454:. Retrieved
450:
441:
411:
368:left on base
357:
344:
337:
327:
319:
314:
312:
302:
298:
294:
290:
286:
282:
280:
271:interference
235:
225:pinch hitter
222:
203:
184:
164:
160:
157:
139:
130:
108:
83:left on base
79:
64:hit by pitch
39:
38:(denoted by
35:
29:
1718:WikiProject
1541:Triple play
1516:Passed ball
1456:Double play
1421:Appeal play
1391:Stolen base
1356:Obstruction
1341:Hit and run
1293:Strike zone
1263:Quick pitch
1248:Pitch count
1223:Knuckleball
1077:Strike zone
1057:Pull hitter
1017:Infield hit
970:Hit and run
873:Batted ball
600:Strike zone
590:Pitch clock
456:November 3,
320:time at bat
315:time at bat
299:time at bat
295:turn at bat
275:obstruction
218:passed ball
210:stolen base
72:obstruction
48:strikes out
1563:Wheel play
1558:Wall climb
1546:unassisted
1481:Fourth out
1476:Force play
1381:Small ball
1308:Wild pitch
1198:Full count
1161:Emery ball
1111:(softball)
1082:Sweet spot
1032:Line drive
990:Grand slam
777:Shin guard
386:References
354:Other uses
214:wild pitch
187:picked off
91:force play
1599:Dead ball
1288:Strikeout
1268:Screwball
1233:No-hitter
1176:four-seam
1151:Curveball
1072:Strikeout
960:Hat trick
940:Foul ball
898:slap bunt
830:Positions
719:Equipment
684:Foul pole
580:In flight
565:Ejections
76:fair ball
1735:Category
1694:Category
1644:Shagging
1410:Fielding
1346:Lead off
1283:Spitball
1258:Pitchout
1171:two-seam
1166:Fastball
1139:Changeup
1124:Beanball
1107:Pitching
1005:Moonshot
1000:Walk-off
985:Home run
945:Foul tip
868:Bat flip
782:Stirrups
757:Doughnut
704:Outfield
654:Backstop
642:Ballpark
615:Cheating
545:Glossary
530:concepts
528:softball
524:Baseball
478:Archived
430:Archived
80:see also
32:baseball
1667:winning
1658:Streak
1572:Related
1536:Tag out
1531:Rundown
1521:Pickoff
1361:Rundown
1273:Shutout
1243:Pickoff
1042:On-deck
1010:Chinese
850:Batting
813:Innings
787:Uniform
694:Infield
674:Bullpen
539:Outline
244:hits a
199:strikes
181:Scoring
110:At bats
99:at bats
1706:Portal
1662:losing
1634:Series
1624:Pepper
1609:Jargon
1526:Putout
1426:Assist
1396:Tag up
1278:Slider
1228:Maddux
1186:sinker
1181:cutter
1156:Eephus
1092:Triple
1067:Single
930:Double
858:At bat
679:Dugout
422:
324:at bat
287:at bat
283:at bat
238:at bat
56:safely
1654:Slump
1461:Error
1436:Catch
1376:Slide
646:field
553:Rules
433:(PDF)
416:(PDF)
195:balls
70:, or
1366:Safe
1326:Balk
1119:Balk
1097:Walk
888:Bunt
727:Ball
526:and
458:2021
420:ISBN
266:; or
259:; or
252:; or
206:balk
965:Hit
835:Run
825:Out
752:Cap
732:Bat
297:or
273:or
262:is
248:or
216:or
197:or
122:MLB
52:out
30:In
1737::
542:·
466:^
449:.
428:.
394:^
305:.
220:.
212:,
208:,
189:,
116:,
97:,
89:,
85:,
66:,
62:,
40:PA
644:/
516:e
509:t
502:v
460:.
277:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
