GUIDES · BETSLIP DOCTOR
How are sacrifice flies and sacrifice bunts treated differently in batting statistics?
A sacrifice fly is not an at-bat but counts against on-base percentage. A sacrifice bunt is also not an at-bat, and MLB removes sacrifice bunts from the OBP calculation.
For Baseball readers interpreting a hitter's scoring line · Updated
A sacrifice fly is an out that can score a runner
A sacrifice fly is credited when a fly ball out to the outfield or foul territory allows a runner to score. It does not count as an at-bat, so it does not lower batting average.
Unlike a sacrifice bunt, a sacrifice fly counts against on-base percentage.
A sacrifice bunt advances runners
A sacrifice bunt is a scoring credit for a bunt that advances one or more runners in the qualifying play. It is not charged as an at-bat, and MLB's OBP definition removes sacrifice bunts from that equation.
The official scoring designation matters. A bunt that becomes a hit is recorded as a hit rather than a sacrifice.
Two hypothetical scoring plays
Fictional examples: a batter flies out to the outfield and a runner scores; that is a sacrifice-fly situation, with no AB but an OBP cost. In another inning, a batter lays down a qualifying bunt that advances a runner and is retired; that sacrifice bunt is not an AB and is removed from the OBP calculation.
Related questions
Does a sacrifice fly count as an at-bat?
No. MLB says a sacrifice fly does not count as an at-bat, but it does count against OBP.
Does a sacrifice bunt lower OBP?
MLB's OBP glossary says sacrifice bunts are removed from the equation.