​One of the key takeaways from our previous look at catcher offense is that each position stands on its own. The big league average for bases per out (BPO) is .676, but that figure tends to be less relevant on its own. At first glance, Christian Walker might seem like an American League All-Star. He is at least solid defensively, and he has added about 20 home runs by the All-Star break. Yet, when we examine the American League numbers more closely, we may hear a different tune.
We are applying the same framework as before. Qualifying players must have at least 120 outs and have played some first base. This criterion will inevitably include some designated hitters, but DH is not really a traditional position so much as a strategic choice. Therefore, when we profile Yordan Alvarez later, he will be treated as a left fielder. With these caveats in place, there are 19 players who qualify for the analysis.
What we’re after is an analysis based on mean and median. It’s one thing to claim that the average big league hitter has a BPO of .676; it’s another to examine what the average looks like among first basemen. The mean—what most people understand as the numerical average—often differs from the median, which is the middle value in the data set. Especially with smaller data sets, the mean and the median can diverge in meaningful ways.
Bases per out is calculated by adding total bases, walks, stolen bases, and hit-by-pitches, then dividing by outs. The idea behind this metric is to be more inclusive and precise than OPS, because it captures the breadth of what a player contributes offensively. So, how does Christian Walker fare compared with the typical American League first baseman?
Outs, T, BB, SB, HBP, BOP, ON
Nick Kurtz 25, 11, 66, 76, 7, 21, 0
Ben Rice 24, 9, 19, 7, 46, 23, 9
Munetaka Murakami 16, 2, 11, 4, 4, 12, 9
Willson Contreras 23, 5, 16, 9, 3, 5, 14
Yandy Díaz 24, 1, 16, 5, 3, 7, 19
Jonathan Aranda 25, 3, 15, 6, 5, 10, 7
Pete Alonso 27, 7, 16, 4, 5, 0, 24
Cody Clemens 23, 2, 14, 5, 2, 16, 5
Paul Goldschmidt 17, 8, 11, 4, 7, 1, 3
Christian Walker 27, 9, 16, 4, 3, 2, 0
Spencer Torkelson 25, 7, 13, 3, 4, 1, 5
Jake Burger 25, 8, 14, 3, 2, 8, 3
Josh Bell 26, 0, 14, 5, 2, 7, 12
Rhys Hoskins 18, 3, 7, 8, 4, 2, 0
Nolan Schanuel 21, 7, 9, 2, 5, 0, 5
Vlad Guerrero Jr. 26, 1, 11, 5, 0, 6, 4
Josh Naylor 27, 7, 12, 2, 9, 3, 18
Kyle Manzardo 21, 3, 9, 5, 3, 9, 20
Vinnie Pasquantino 20, 4, 8, 9, 3, 2, 13
Mean 23.6, 6.1, 14.1, 5.9, 4.1, 5.9, 0.4
Median 24.1, 9.0, 13.9, 3.5, 13.7, 3.1, 7.3
I recognize that the table above reflects the kinds of raw values and formatting that readers might want to see clearly laid out. The essential takeaway here is not the exact numbers on every line but the pattern they reveal. Generally speaking, the more success a player has—manifested in higher totals of bases, walks, stolen bases, or other productive events—the more opportunities such a player tends to receive. That dynamic tends to push the mean upward, which is why the median provides a more robust benchmark in many evaluative contexts. If you examine the middle position in the distribution, you’ll find that Christian Walker sits there, which is telling.
Even so, the components and the end results don’t align perfectly because of differences in opportunity. If you recalculate the numbers using the median column, you won’t get .729; you’ll actually land closer to .739. Either value seems more reasonable as a benchmark when comparing to the league average and when aiming for search-friendly summaries. In short, the median offers a sturdier representation of typical performance across these first-base-type players, helping avoid being skewed by a few exceptionally productive performers.