BABIP measures a player's batting average exclusively on balls hit into the field of play, removing outcomes not affected by the opposing defense (namely home runs and strikeouts). .300 tends to be the average for BABIP. A higher BABIP for pitchers tend to show that they are unlucky, and that they will improve. A low BABIP for hitters also tends to show that they are unlucky and they will improve, and vice versa. That said, skill can play a role in BABIP, as some pitchers are adept at generating weak contact, while some hitters excel at producing hard-hit balls.