Defining a Quality At-Bat (QAB)
Batting average lies. QAB% is the metric I track because it tells you whether the hitter is competing — not whether they got lucky.
Batting average is the worst metric in baseball for measuring development.
A hitter can go 0-for-4 and have four quality at-bats.
Another can go 2-for-4 and have given away both outs on first-pitch ground balls.
Average rewards luck. QAB% rewards process.
That's why every player I work with tracks QAB%, not average. It's the approach, the way they think and handle each at-bat, that tells us whether the work is showing up between the lines.
A Quality At-Bat counts when the hitter does at least one of the following:
- Hits the ball hard (line drive, deep fly, gap)
- Drives in a run with two outs
- Sees six or more pitches and doesn't strike out
- Walks / gets hit by a pitch
- Moves a runner over in a much-needed situation
- Battles to a full count and doesn't strike out
- Executes a sacrifice (bunt or fly)
- Beats out an infield hit by hustling out of the box
And many more.
What QAB% tells you:
- Is the hitter competing every at-bat or only when it feels good?
- Is the approach holding up against off-speed and two-strike counts?
- Is the player a producer in pressure situations or a passenger?
If a hitter can go up with the focus to produce quality at-bats, the results catch up. Always.
THE NEXT STEP
WANT THIS DIAGNOSED ON YOUR HITTER?
Your hitter probably doesn’t need more random swings. They need to know what they’re actually trying to fix.
Start with an Initial Hitting Assessment — video analysis, swing and mechanics evaluation, approach and hitting-IQ review, and a clear development plan.
