What is A Good Batting Average in High School Baseball?

A hitter in baseball is a judge of how well a player can bat, but high school baseball players must remember that a high batting average is not the only thing that matters. Most high school hitters strive to achieve a good mark above .300, but a good batting average in high school baseball mostly depends on the competition the player plays against.

Scouts at both the professional and college level don’t care much about a player’s batting average because it doesn’t necessarily relate to their ability to make it to the next level. This is good news for high school hitters who should not stress too much about their batting average, but this will be discussed later.

College and Pro Evaluations

When scouts and college consider evaluating Prospect High School, one of the last things they look at is the average batting of the school’s high school players and their parents.

Scouts and college recruiters often disregard a player’s high school batting average for various reasons.

It is not true that evaluators at high school often completely trust the stats, but it often happens. When other players reach base on an error, the shortstop’s dad may be inclined to give his son hits. It is not uncommon for the dad to keep official stats for the team. Not all stat keepers at the high school level are completely knowledgeable and objective about what classifies as a hit.

“Being able to foresee potential is what they refer to as this. Their main focus lies on the resources he possesses to succeed at the subsequent stage.”

Professional scouts evaluate players on a scale of 20-80. Baseball America simplifies this scale in a clear and understandable manner.

In professional baseball, players are evaluated based on their potential rather than their current abilities at the high school level. Each grade is assessed in comparison to Major League players. There are no predefined batting average figures assigned to this ranking system.

College recruiters evaluate players based on their potential in college, rather than their performance in high school. However, at the professional level, there is no standardized way of evaluating players on a scale of 20-80. College recruiters often use terms like average, above average, plus, minus, etc. To make general assessments.

Usually, Player B will be chosen over Player A. Player B has a batting average of .370 but is expected to significantly enhance his skills once he joins a more advanced hitting program. On the other hand, Player A has a batting average of .450 in high school, but it seems like he has reached his maximum potential in terms of talent. This might cause some surprise if a scout believes that a player has the ability to perform at the higher level, but Player A is only batting .260 against below average high school pitchers. However, it is important not to be deceived here. The main point is.

QABs

Batting averages don’t always reveal the complete truth. Player C had five infield singles, while Player D had eight line drive outs with 2-10. When looking at the stat sheet, who had a better performance? Player C had more productive at-bats, whereas Player D had fewer.

Because there are more high school baseball programs across the country, the stat of At-Bats Quality (QABs) is used to assess the beginning use.

Steve Springer from Qualityatbats.Com defines a Qualityatbat (QAB) as any at-bat that produces the following outcomes:

  • It’s a tough ball.
  • Walk.
  • 8 Plate Appearance At-Bat.
  • Sac Bunt/Fly.
  • Advance the Runners with Less than 2 Outs.
  • Base Hit.
  • Focusing more on the quality of at-bats allows players to understand that getting hits isn’t the all-end-all of batting averages. It is normally a good thing for a player and a team to consistently get hits.

    Springer also notes, “After 30+ years in baseball as a player, coach, and scout, I believe what causes hitters to underachieve is.

  • Their objective is to achieve a successful hit instead of striking the ball forcefully.
  • Instead of focusing on helping their team win, they prioritize their own interests.
  • They attempt to strike the fastball, curveball, and changeup simultaneously. Swinging at everything instead of selectively targeting pitches.
  • Enter Pout Mode when they don’t achieve success instead of being a stronger competitor than they are a participant.
  • It is worth teaching young hitters to be productive and focused on batting rather than just getting hits, with the help of a trusted statistician for teams.

    Familiarize yourself with monitoring their Quality At-Bats (QABs), so batters aspiring to progress to the next stage should have been utilizing this measurement for a considerable duration, numerous educational institutions.

    Moving Target

    It is virtually impossible to predict the talent and depth of each division, league, city, and state, making comparisons between them extremely difficult.

    It is important for any high school player to understand that reaching a mark like hitting above .300 does not simply make them a good hitter. Hitting above .300 is a goal that any high school player should strive for. However, it is important to realize that hitting above .300 in college is much different, especially when facing pitchers with potential and competing in regions with multiple college-level teams.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the record for the highest high school batting average?

    As per the National Federation of High School Sports, there have been seven high school athletes who have achieved a batting average of over .800 for a season with a minimum of 50 at-bats. Terry Francona, the present manager of the Cleveland team, is among those seven players who accomplished this remarkable feat for New Brighton (PA) in 1976. Melvin Begley (Boise City, OK 1953-54) and Rod Tartsan (Cache, OK 1982-84) hold the most impressive career batting averages, with both players hitting above .700.

    Do college recruiters and scouts even want to know a high schooler’s batting average?

    Based solely on an impressive batting average, they seldom choose to extend an offer or select a promising player. If they observe that his batting average falls significantly below their expectations for his skill level, they may eliminate him from consideration. In the case of a player with marginal talent, they may consider his batting average as part of their evaluation process. It could serve as a valuable resource for assessing borderline players. However, if they witness the player’s potential and positive trajectory, they will probably not waste their time analyzing his batting average. It is highly unlikely.

    Does the MLB track QABs?

    Nevertheless, Major League Teams frequently employ it to inform personnel choices. QABs, instead of batting averages, rely on bestowed MVPs, Silver Sluggers, and Triple Crowns. Similar to batting average, it is not a captivating statistic. It is not familiar to a larger number of fans compared to those who are acquainted with it. They rarely publicize it to the broader audience, although they do indeed.

    It is understandable why so many young baseball players get caught up in their batting average, as it is almost like a part of their identity, especially if it is a significant factor in determining their success on the field. Every time they watch a baseball game, his name pops up right below the average hitter’s. He realizes that his batting average is not the only qualifier for a successful career in baseball, and whether or not he is successful at the plate does not define his fulfillment.

    It is rarely an indicator of how successful their baseball career will be, but high school hitters must remember that relative to the competition they play against, a good goal at any level of baseball is usually hitting .300.