Secondary Average Calculator for Baseball [Easy Tool with Formula for Calculating SECA]

An easy tool for calculating secondary average in baseball with grading scale for evaluation.

How to Use This Secondary Average Calculator

This secondary average calculator for baseball helps determine a player’s SECA, which measures their offensive contributions beyond just hitting for average. These are the steps you need to follow in the calculator above:

Start by entering the number of walks the player has drawn. Next, input the total bases, which includes all bases gained from hits. If you don’t know your total bases, you can calculate total bases here.

For total bases, a single counts as one base, a double counts as two, a triple counts as three, and a home run counts as four. After that, enter the number of total hits. This helps separate total bases gained from the raw number of times a player has made contact for a hit.

Next, enter the number of stolen bases the player has. Stolen bases add value to a player’s offensive ability by advancing them further without needing another batter to move them forward. Also, include the number of times they have been caught stealing. This provides balance by factoring in the risk taken when attempting to steal.

Finally, input the number of at-bats. At-bats represent the total number of times the player has had an official batting opportunity, excluding walks, sacrifice flies, and hit-by-pitches. Press the calculate button to see the result.

The baseball secondary average will appear on the screen in the output area. Below the secondary average, the calculator will also display a grade to help you better interpret the number.

Secondary Average Formula for Baseball

How to figure SECA

Using our secondary average calculator at the top of the page make it easy to plug in stats to calculate SECA. But, if you want the formula to figure it on your own, this is the formula for secondary average in baseball:

SECA = (BB + (TB – H) + (SB – CS)) / AB

For example, a player with 10 walks, 150 total bases, 60 hits, 5 stolen bases, and 2 times caught stealing in 400 at-bats would have a secondary average of 0.258. This is found by subtracting hits from total bases, adding walks and net stolen bases, and dividing by at-bats.

The final number, 0.258, falls into the average range, meaning this player provides a moderate amount of offensive value beyond just making contact.

What is Secondary Average in Baseball?

SECA was originally created by Bill James. Baseball secondary average attempts to isolate a player’s ability to generate offensive value beyond just making contact.

It focuses on power (extra-base hits), patience (walks), and speed (stolen bases), while subtracting caught stealing, giving a clearer view of a player’s impact on scoring opportunities rather than just their ability to get make contact.

A batter with a high SECA is usually effective at getting extra-base hits, drawing walks, and stealing bases, making them more dangerous on offense. Unlike batting average, which only measures contact hitting, secondary average gives a fuller picture of a player’s ability to generate offense in multiple ways.

Calculating Secondary Average vs Other Stats

Secondary average offers a unique perspective compared to traditional stats like batting average, OPS, wOBA, and ISO. Batting average only tells how often a player gets a hit but ignores the quality of those hits, how often they walk, and how well they steal bases. A player with a low batting average but a high number of extra-base hits and walks can still have strong offensive value, which SECA captures more effectively.

Unlike OPS, which adds on-base percentage and slugging percentage together, secondary average isolates contributions that come from walks, extra-base hits, and stolen bases without being influenced by singles. wOBA (weighted on-base average) assigns different weights to different outcomes but still leans heavily on total offensive production rather than isolating these secondary contributions. ISO (isolated power) focuses only on extra-base hits, while SECA includes stolen bases and walks, making it a broader measure of offensive skill.

By using our secondary average calculator (alongside other stats), coaches, analysts, and fans can get a clearer picture of which players are generating offense in multiple ways. It helps identify players who may not have high batting averages but still contribute heavily to their team’s success.

What is a Good Secondary Average in Baseball?

Good secondary average in baseball is .300 or above, with .400 or above being elite. This can vary depending on the era, but this chart below gives you a general idea of what good secondary average is in baseball.

SECA Baseball Chart