Calculate a baseball fielder's Fielding Percentage (FPCT) by entering their putouts, assists, and errors. You get back the fielding percentage, total chances, and a breakdown of how each component contributes — a quick way to assess any defender's reliability in the field.
Fielding Percentage (FPCT)
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Total Chances
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Successful Chances (PO + A)
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Error Rate
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Fielding percentage (FPCT), sometimes called fielding average, is a baseball statistic that measures how often a defensive player successfully handles a batted or thrown ball without making an error. It is expressed as a decimal between 0 and 1, where 1.000 represents a perfect, error-free performance. It's one of the most commonly used metrics for evaluating a fielder's reliability.
The formula is: FPCT = (Putouts + Assists) / (Putouts + Assists + Errors). The denominator is referred to as total chances. For example, a fielder with 150 putouts, 45 assists, and 5 errors has a FPCT of (150 + 45) / (150 + 45 + 5) = 195 / 200 = 0.975.
A chance is any defensive opportunity in which a fielder is expected to make a play. Total chances = putouts + assists + errors. Reached-on-error situations count because the fielder had an opportunity but failed to convert it. Passed balls by catchers are not counted as fielding chances.
A good fielding percentage varies by position. For most positions in MLB, a fielding percentage above .980 is considered solid, with many elite fielders posting .990 or higher. Shortstops and third basemen typically have lower averages than first basemen due to the difficulty and volume of plays at their positions.
Not necessarily. Fielding percentage only measures what a player does with balls they reach — it doesn't account for range. A fielder with limited range may post a high FPCT simply because they only attempt easy plays. A player who covers more ground may commit more errors but actually prevents more runs overall.
A player who covers more ground will attempt harder plays than a less mobile fielder. Because fielding percentage only penalizes errors without rewarding the additional ground covered, it can undervalue players with excellent range. Metrics like Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) or Outs Above Average (OAA) account for range more effectively.
No, fielding percentage does not measure range. It only captures whether a fielder successfully handles the balls they do reach. To evaluate range — how much ground a fielder covers — analysts use advanced defensive statistics such as Range Factor, Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), or UZR.
Yes. Team fielding percentage is calculated the same way — sum all putouts, assists, and errors across the entire roster, then apply the standard formula. It's a useful benchmark for comparing team defense across a season or between different teams in the league.