Fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a widely used defensive statistic in baseball and softball that measures how effectively a player handles fielding opportunities. It provides a simple way to evaluate a fielder's consistency and reliability by calculating the proportion of plays they successfully complete without errors.
The formula for fielding percentage is straightforward:
Fielding Percentage = (Putouts + Assists) / (Putouts + Assists + Errors)
Here's a quick breakdown of the components:
For example, if a shortstop has 50 putouts, 80 assists, and 5 errors, their fielding percentage would be:
(50 + 80) / (50 + 80 + 5) = 130 / 135 = 0.963
A fielding percentage of 1.000 means the player made no errors and successfully completed every opportunity. While this perfect score is rare over a full season, many top-level players maintain fielding percentages above 0.950, depending on their position and number of chances.
It's important to note that fielding percentage does not capture everything about a player’s defensive ability. It doesn’t account for range (how much ground they can cover) or difficulty of plays attempted. However, it remains a valuable tool for comparing basic fielding effectiveness across players and positions.
Coaches, analysts, and fans use fielding percentage to track improvement over time, evaluate consistency, and compare defensive performance among players.
The Fielding Percentage Calculator is a simple and easy-to-use tool designed to help players, coaches, and fans quickly determine a fielder’s defensive effectiveness. It uses three key statistics entered by the user: Putouts, Assists, and Errors.
Here’s how it works step by step:
Fielding Percentage = (Putouts + Assists) ÷ (Putouts + Assists + Errors)
The result is displayed as a three-digit decimal (e.g., 0.975), along with the total number of chances the player had (putouts + assists + errors). A higher percentage indicates fewer errors and better fielding performance.
If any values are invalid—such as negative numbers or total chances being zero—the calculator will show a helpful error message so you can correct the input and try again.
This tool is perfect for players who want to track their stats, coaches analyzing defensive performance, or fans curious about how well their favorite player is performing in the field.
Using the Fielding Percentage Calculator is quick and user-friendly. You just need to enter three basic stats that represent a player’s fielding performance during a game, a season, or over a career. Here’s how to input your data correctly:
Enter the total number of putouts the player made. A putout is credited when the player directly causes an out, such as catching a fly ball, tagging a runner, or stepping on a base during a force play.
Enter the number of assists. An assist is recorded when the player contributes to an out by fielding the ball and throwing or passing it to another player who completes the play.
Enter the number of fielding errors. An error is any mistake (like a dropped catch or bad throw) that allows a runner to reach base or advance when they otherwise would have been out.
All values must be non-negative whole numbers. You can input data from a single game, a series of games, or an entire season—whatever you’d like to calculate.
Once you’ve filled in all three fields, simply click the "Calculate Fielding Percentage" button. The calculator will then process your data and instantly display the fielding percentage, along with the total number of chances (putouts + assists + errors).
Tip: Double-check your numbers before submitting to ensure accuracy and get the most reliable results.
Once you input your stats and click the "Calculate Fielding Percentage" button, the calculator will display two key results: the Fielding Percentage and the Total Chances. Here's how to interpret each:
This is the main result you're looking for. It's shown as a decimal rounded to three digits (e.g., 0.978). This number tells you how often a player successfully handled their defensive opportunities without making an error.
For example:
This number shows the total defensive opportunities the player had. It is the sum of putouts, assists, and errors:
Total Chances = Putouts + Assists + Errors
This helps give context to the fielding percentage. A high percentage with many chances is often more impressive than the same percentage with only a few chances.
The results give insight into a fielder’s consistency and reliability. Fielding percentage is often used by coaches and analysts to evaluate defensive performance, compare players, and identify strengths or weaknesses in the field.
Keep in mind that while fielding percentage is helpful, it doesn't tell the whole story. It doesn't account for difficult plays, fielding range, or game situations. Still, it's a useful stat for tracking improvement and spotting trends over time.
A good fielding percentage depends on the level of play and position. Generally, a percentage above 0.980 is excellent for most professional players. Infielders and outfielders in professional leagues often maintain averages between 0.950 and 0.995.
Yes! You can use the calculator to analyze an individual player or an entire team’s defensive performance. Just add up the total putouts, assists, and errors for the whole team and enter them into the form.
The calculator will show an error message. Only non-negative numbers (0 or higher) are allowed, as negative stats don’t make sense in this context.
If both your putouts and assists are zero, your total chances would also be zero, which results in an error message. You need at least one fielding opportunity (putout or assist) for the calculator to work.
It’s up to you. Some players check it after each game, while others review it weekly or monthly. It’s a helpful tool for tracking improvement over time.
No. Fielding percentage only measures how well a player handles the chances they actually get. It does not account for range, positioning, or the difficulty of plays. For a full picture of defensive ability, other stats like range factor or advanced analytics may be needed.