A batting average is a statistic used in baseball to measure a player's hitting performance. It is calculated by dividing the number of hits a player has by the number of official at-bats. For example, if a player has 20 hits in 50 at-bats, their batting average would be .400, indicating they get a hit 40% of the time. Batting averages are important for evaluating players and comparing their performance. A higher batting average generally signifies a more effective hitter. This statistic helps teams and fans understand a player's contribution to the game and can influence decisions on player contracts and positions.