REFERENCE

Baseball Box Score Abbreviations

Every abbreviation in a box score, in plain English. Batting, pitching, fielding, and the pitch type codes you see on broadcasts.

BattingBatting Averages and RatesPitchingFielding and the Game LinePitch Type Abbreviations

Batting

The hitter columns in a box score, left to right, plus the extras listed underneath.

ABAt bats. Plate appearances minus walks, hit by pitches, sacrifices, and catcher interference.
RRuns scored by the player.
HHits.
RBIRuns batted in: runs that scored because of the batter’s plate appearance.
BBBase on balls, a walk.
SO or KStrikeouts.
LOBLeft on base: runners stranded when an inning ended. Listed per batter and per team.
2B / 3B / HRDoubles, triples, and home runs, usually listed below the batting lines.
TBTotal bases: 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple, 4 for a home run.
SB / CSStolen bases and caught stealing.
HBPHit by pitch.
SFSacrifice fly.
SH or SACSacrifice hit, usually a bunt.
GIDPGrounded into a double play.
PH / PRPinch hitter and pinch runner.

Batting Averages and Rates

The percentages printed next to a player’s name. A box score shows them for the season, not the single game.

AVGBatting average: hits divided by at bats. .300 means 3 hits every 10 at bats.
OBPOn-base percentage: (H + BB + HBP) divided by (AB + BB + HBP + SF).
SLGSlugging percentage: total bases divided by at bats.
OPSOn-base plus slugging: OBP and SLG added together.

Pitching

The pitcher lines at the bottom of the box score, one row per pitcher who appeared.

IPInnings pitched. 6.1 means 6 and one-third innings, 6.2 means 6 and two-thirds. Each out is a third.
HHits allowed.
RRuns allowed.
EREarned runs: runs that scored without the help of an error or passed ball.
BBWalks allowed.
SO or KStrikeouts.
HRHome runs allowed.
ERAEarned run average: earned runs per nine innings. (ER × 9) ÷ IP.
WHIPWalks plus hits per inning pitched. (BB + H) ÷ IP.
NP or PCNumber of pitches thrown, the pitch count.
P-SPitches and strikes, written like 94-61: 94 pitches, 61 of them strikes.
BFBatters faced.
W / LWinning and losing pitcher.
SV / BSSave and blown save.
HLDHold: a relief pitcher protected a lead and handed it off.
WP / BKWild pitch and balk.

Fielding and the Game Line

The numbers that describe the defense and the game as a whole.

R H EThe line score totals: runs, hits, and errors for each team.
EErrors. In a box score, E6 means an error by the shortstop.
POPutouts: the fielder recorded the out.
AAssists: the fielder threw or deflected the ball to help get an out.
DPDouble plays turned.
FA fly ball out, followed by the position that caught it. F8 is a fly out to center field.

Pitch Type Abbreviations

The two-letter codes on broadcast graphics, pitch tracking apps, and scouting reports. A line like "73.9-75.0 CH" means changeups thrown between 73.9 and 75.0 mph.

FFFour-seam fastball.
SISinker, also called a two-seam fastball.
FCCutter.
SLSlider.
STSweeper.
CUCurveball.
KCKnuckle curve.
CHChangeup.
FSSplit-finger fastball, the splitter.
KNKnuckleball.

Box Score vs. Scorebook

A box score is the summary: totals for each player once the game is over. A scorebook is the record of every play as it happened, and the box score is built from it. If you keep the book, you can produce the box score. It does not work the other way around.

The marks you write during the game are a separate set of abbreviations. See scorekeeping abbreviations, the scoring symbols guide, and position numbers.

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