Part 1/8:
The Evolution of Baseball Metrics: Moving Beyond Batting Average
For decades, batting average was regarded as the pinnacle statistic of success for hitters in Major League Baseball (MLB). This simple figure, calculated by dividing a player’s hits by their at-bats, served as an intuitive measure of a player's effectiveness at the plate. A batting average of .300, for instance, suggested a player achieved success 30% of the time—a ratio easily understood by fans, players, and commentators alike. Yet, as the game evolved, so too did its metrics. Today, the conversation around evaluating player performance has shifted dramatically, leaving behind the batting average in favor of more comprehensive analytics like Wins Above Replacement (WAR).