Batting average, e.g. NYT crossword clue

The clue “Batting average, e.g.” points to the answer STAT, which is short for statistic. A batting average is a numerical measure used in baseball to represent a player’s hitting performance—specifically, the ratio of a batter’s hits to their number of at-bats. Since it quantifies performance, it falls under the broader category of stats, making STAT the perfect answer.

This clue is a classic example of how the NYT Mini leans on sports knowledge and abbreviations. It’s concise and relies on recognizing that “batting average” isn’t just a sports term, but a type of statistic. Crossword fans who enjoy sports or data will quickly pick up on this, while others may appreciate how everyday concepts like numbers and performance metrics get boiled down into three-letter puzzle entries.