Walk rate measures the percentage of plate appearances that end in a walk. For pitchers, lower is better — walks are free baserunners that the defense can’t help prevent. For hitters, higher is better — walks mean you’re reaching base without needing a hit.

For pitchers, BB% is one of the most telling stats. A pitcher who can’t control the strike zone will issue walks that snowball into big innings. Elite starters typically hold BB% under 6%, while anything above 10% signals trouble. Walk rate is also one of the three FIP inputs, directly feeding into NUT Score.

For hitters, walk rate reflects plate discipline. Hitters with high BB% see more pitches, work deeper counts, and force pitchers into the zone. Combined with low K%, a high walk rate is the hallmark of an elite offensive player. It’s why OBP matters more than batting average.

What is a good BB%?

Walk rate is another pillar of FIP and therefore NUT Score for pitchers. Walks are free baserunners — the fewer a pitcher issues, the more value they provide.

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