Reference
Youth Baseball Analytics Glossary: 26 Terms in Plain English
Plain-English definitions of the youth baseball and softball analytics terms coaches ask about most. Where a term is a stat, its formula is listed too.
- BABIP
- Batting average on balls in play. Unusually high or low values usually reflect luck or defense, not skill.
(H − HR) ÷ (AB − K − HR + SF) - Batted-Ball Rates (LD%, GB%, FB%)
- The share of balls in play that are line drives, ground balls and fly balls. Line drives produce the best outcomes.
- Batting Average (AVG)
- Hits divided by at-bats. Simple, but it ignores walks and treats every hit the same.
H ÷ AB - Caught-Stealing Percentage (CS%)
- The share of stolen-base attempts a catcher throws out. It depends heavily on the pitcher's delivery.
CS ÷ SB attempts - Earned Run Average (ERA)
- Earned runs allowed per regulation game. It mixes pitching with the defense behind the pitcher.
ER × innings per game ÷ IP - Expected Outcomes
- Predicted results (e.g., hit probability) derived from historical performance and comparable situations.
- Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP)
- An ERA-style number built only from strikeouts, walks, hit batters and home runs — the outcomes a pitcher controls.
(13×HR + 3×(BB + HBP) − 2×K) ÷ IP + constant - Fielding Percentage (FPCT)
- The share of fielding chances handled without an error. It ignores range, so compare it only within a position.
(PO + A) ÷ (PO + A + E) - First-Pitch Strike Rate
- The share of batters who see strike one. Getting ahead early is one of the strongest signs of pitcher control.
- GameChanger
- A widely used youth baseball and softball scorekeeping and stats app. ScoutBall AI imports GameChanger stats to power its analytics.
- Hard-Hit Ball Rate (HHB%)
- The share of a hitter's batted balls that are hit hard — a sign of quality contact.
- Lineup Optimization
- Using AI and data to build batting orders and alignments that maximize team performance and development.
- On-Base Percentage (OBP)
- How often a hitter reaches base by hit, walk or hit-by-pitch. The best measure of a leadoff hitter.
(H + BB + HBP) ÷ (AB + BB + HBP + SF) - OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging)
- OBP plus SLG — one number that captures both getting on base and hitting for power.
OBP + SLG - Passed Ball (PB) vs. Wild Pitch (WP)
- A passed ball is charged to the catcher on a catchable pitch; a wild pitch is charged to the pitcher on one the catcher couldn't reasonably handle.
- Pitch Command
- How often a pitcher hits the catcher's target. ScoutBall AI's Pitch Chart measures it by comparing target location with actual location.
- Pitch Count & Workload
- The number of pitches a pitcher throws in a game or week. Most youth leagues set age-based pitch limits and rest requirements.
- Player Development Plan
- A personalized training roadmap built from a player's stats, strengths, and areas for improvement.
- Reached on Error (ROE)
- A time a batter reached base because of a fielding error. In youth ball it often rewards putting the ball in play.
- Sabermetrics
- Advanced baseball statistics that measure true player value beyond batting average and ERA.
- Slugging Percentage (SLG)
- Total bases per at-bat, so doubles, triples and home runs count more than singles.
Total bases ÷ AB - Spray Chart
- A field diagram showing where a hitter's balls in play land, used for defensive positioning and scouting.
- Stolen Base (SB)
- Credited when a runner advances on their own — not on a wild pitch, passed ball or error, which youth scorekeepers often mix up.
- Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio (K/BB)
- Strikeouts divided by walks — a simple measure of pitcher command. Above 2 is impressive for youth pitchers.
K ÷ BB - Walk Rate (BB/PA)
- The share of plate appearances that end in a walk; a measure of plate discipline.
BB ÷ PA - WHIP
- Walks plus hits per inning pitched — how many baserunners a pitcher allows each inning. Lower is better.
(BB + H) ÷ IP
These principles apply equally to youth softball analytics for hitters, pitchers, and defense—mirroring how teams use ScoutBall AI on phones and computers for softball decision-making and development.
Want the formulas side by side? See the stats cheat sheet, or get short answers in the stat questions section of the blog.