What is OPS in baseball? OPS stands for On-base Plus Slugging, and it’s a key metric used to evaluate a baseball player’s overall offensive performance. Can I calculate OPS myself? Yes, you absolutely can calculate OPS yourself with a few simple steps and some basic baseball statistics.
OPS combines two essential components of hitting: a player’s ability to get on base and their ability to hit for power. It’s a popular statistic because it offers a more comprehensive view of a hitter’s contribution than just looking at batting average alone. Many fans and analysts consider it one of the most important baseball statistics for measuring offensive effectiveness.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how to calculate OPS, what each part means, and why it’s such a valuable tool for appreciating baseball’s offensive stars. We’ll cover everything from on-base percentage to slugging percentage, and how they come together to form the final OPS number.
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Deciphering the Components of OPS
Before we can calculate OPS, we need to understand its two building blocks: On-Base Percentage (OBP) and Slugging Percentage (SLG). Each measures a different aspect of a hitter’s offensive prowess.
On-Base Percentage (OBP): Getting on Base Matters
On-Base Percentage (OBP) measures how often a batter reaches base. It accounts for hits, walks, and hit by pitch. The formula for OBP is:
OBP = (Hits + Walks + Hit By Pitch) / (At Bats + Walks + Hit By Pitch + Sacrifice Flies)
Let’s break down each element in the OBP calculation:
- Hits: These are standard hits where the batter reaches base safely without an error. This includes singles, doubles, triples, and home runs.
- Walks (BB – Base on Balls): When a pitcher throws four balls before throwing three strikes, the batter is awarded first base. This is a valuable way to reach base without putting the ball in play.
- Hit By Pitch (HBP): When a pitched ball hits the batter, they are awarded first base. This is another way to reach base without a hit.
- At Bats (AB): This is a batter’s official turn at-bat. Certain plate appearances are not counted as at-bats, such as walks, hit by pitch, sacrifice bunts, and sacrifice flies.
- Sacrifice Flies (SF): When a batter hits a fly ball that is caught by an outfielder or infielder, and a runner on base scores from third base, it’s a sacrifice fly. While it results in a run, it’s not considered a hit, but it does impact the OBP denominator.
Why is OBP important? Simply put, a runner on base can score runs. A player who gets on base frequently is more likely to contribute to scoring. OBP values a player’s discipline at the plate and their ability to avoid making outs. A high OBP indicates a hitter who is difficult to get out and consistently puts themselves in scoring position.
Example of OBP Calculation:
Let’s say a player has the following stats in a season:
- Hits: 150
- Walks: 70
- Hit By Pitch: 5
- At Bats: 500
- Sacrifice Flies: 10
Using the OBP formula:
OBP = (150 + 70 + 5) / (500 + 70 + 5 + 10)
OBP = 225 / 585
OBP ≈ 0.385
This means the player reached base approximately 38.5% of the time when they were considered to be in an at-bat situation (including walks, HBP, and sacrifice flies).
Slugging Percentage (SLG): Hitting for Power
Slugging Percentage (SLG) measures a batter’s power. It quantifies how many bases a player “slugs” or hits per at-bat. The formula for SLG is:
SLG = Total Bases / At Bats
Let’s look at the components of SLG:
- Total Bases (TB): This is the sum of all the bases a batter reaches on their hits.
- Singles = 1 total base
- Doubles = 2 total bases
- Triples = 3 total bases
- Home Runs = 4 total bases
So, Total Bases = (1 * Number of Singles) + (2 * Number of Doubles) + (3 * Number of Triples) + (4 * Number of Home Runs).
- At Bats (AB): As mentioned before, this is the batter’s official turn at-bat.
Why is SLG important? SLG directly reflects a player’s ability to hit for extra bases. A player with a high SLG is a threat to hit doubles, triples, and home runs, which are the most impactful hits in baseball. These extra-base hits often drive in runs scored and can change the momentum of a game.
Example of SLG Calculation:
Using the same player as above, let’s add some detail about their hits:
- Singles: 100
- Doubles: 35
- Triples: 10
- Home Runs: 5
- At Bats: 500
First, calculate Total Bases:
Total Bases = (1 * 100) + (2 * 35) + (3 * 10) + (4 * 5)
Total Bases = 100 + 70 + 30 + 20
Total Bases = 220
Now, calculate Slugging Percentage:
SLG = 220 / 500
SLG = 0.440
This player slugs for an average of 0.440 bases per at-bat.
The Final Step: Calculating OPS
Now that we’ve got a firm grasp on OBP and SLG, calculating OPS is straightforward. It’s literally the sum of these two metrics.
OPS = On-Base Percentage (OBP) + Slugging Percentage (SLG)
This simple addition combines the two most important offensive contributions into a single, easy-to-interpret number.
Continuing Our Example:
We calculated our player’s OBP as 0.385 and their SLG as 0.440.
OPS = 0.385 + 0.440
OPS = 0.825
So, this player has an OPS of 0.825. Generally, an OPS of 0.800 or higher is considered very good, and anything above 0.900 is considered excellent or elite.
Why OPS is More Informative Than Batting Average
It’s worth noting why OPS is often preferred over batting average (Hits / At Bats). Batting average only considers hits and ignores walks and power. A player could have a high batting average but not get on base very often or hit for much power. Conversely, a player might have a slightly lower batting average but walk frequently and hit for a lot of power, resulting in a higher OPS and greater overall offensive value.
Comparison Table: Batting Average vs. OPS
| Scenario | Player A (High Avg, Low OBP/SLG) | Player B (Good Avg, High OBP/SLG) |
|---|---|---|
| Hits | 160 | 140 |
| At Bats | 500 | 450 |
| Walks | 20 | 60 |
| Home Runs | 5 | 20 |
| Total Bases | 160 + (2 * 0) + (3 * 0) + (4 * 5) = 180 | 140 + (2 * 0) + (3 * 0) + (4 * 20) = 220 |
| Sacrifice Flies | 5 | 5 |
| Hit By Pitch | 0 | 0 |
| Batting Avg | 160 / 500 = 0.320 | 140 / 450 = 0.311 |
| OBP | (160 + 20 + 0) / (500 + 20 + 0 + 5) = 180 / 525 = 0.343 | (140 + 60 + 0) / (450 + 60 + 0 + 5) = 200 / 515 = 0.388 |
| SLG | 180 / 500 = 0.360 | 220 / 450 = 0.489 |
| OPS | 0.343 + 0.360 = 0.703 | 0.388 + 0.489 = 0.877 |
In this example, Player A has a higher batting average. However, Player B has a significantly better OBP and SLG, resulting in a much higher OPS. This suggests Player B is a more valuable offensive player because they get on base more often and hit for much more power, even with a slightly lower batting average.
Advanced Considerations and Nuances
While the basic OPS calculation is straightforward, there are some further points to consider when evaluating this stat.
What About RBIs and Runs Scored?
You might notice that RBIs (Runs Batted In) and runs scored are not directly part of the OPS calculation. This is intentional. OPS focuses on the batter’s direct contribution to their own ability to reach base and hit for power. RBIs and runs scored are influenced by other players on the team (who is batting before them, who is on base, etc.) and defensive performance. While these are crucial outcomes of offense, OPS aims to isolate the hitter’s individual plate performance.
The “Adjusted” OPS (OPS+)
For a more sophisticated analysis, statisticians often use OPS+. OPS+ adjusts a player’s OPS for external factors like ballpark effects and the league’s average offensive performance. An OPS+ of 100 is considered league average. An OPS+ of 120 means the player is 20% better than the league average, while an OPS+ of 80 means they are 20% below average. This provides a standardized way to compare hitters across different eras and ballparks.
Comparing Players: How to Use OPS
When comparing hitters, it’s best to look at players within the same league and season, or use OPS+ for cross-era comparisons. An OPS of 1.000 in one era might be more or less impressive than in another, depending on league-wide scoring.
General OPS Value Benchmarks:
- Below .600: Poor Offensive Performance
- .600 – .699: Below Average Offensive Performance
- .700 – .799: Average Offensive Performance
- .800 – .899: Good Offensive Performance
- .900 – .999: Excellent Offensive Performance
- 1.000+: Elite Offensive Performance (Historically, only the very best hitters achieve this consistently)
Factors Not Directly Captured by OPS
While powerful, OPS doesn’t capture everything. It doesn’t directly measure:
- Speed: A fast runner might be more valuable than their OPS suggests if they steal bases and score from first on a double.
- Defense: A player with a great bat might be limited if they are a defensive liability.
- Situational Hitting: While getting on base is key, OPS doesn’t differentiate between a solo home run and a bases-clearing grand slam.
However, for a quick and effective measure of raw offensive output, OPS is hard to beat.
Practical Application: Calculating OPS with Real Data
Let’s walk through another example, this time focusing on a hypothetical player’s game log or season stats.
Player: “Slugger” Sam
Season Stats:
- Plate Appearances: 600
- At Bats (AB): 520
- Singles (1B): 120
- Doubles (2B): 30
- Triples (3B): 5
- Home Runs (HR): 25
- Walks (BB): 60
- Hit By Pitch (HBP): 8
- Sacrifice Flies (SF): 12
- Runs Scored: 95
- RBIs: 110
Step 1: Calculate Total Bases (TB)
TB = (1 * 120) + (2 * 30) + (3 * 5) + (4 * 25)
TB = 120 + 60 + 15 + 100
TB = 295
Step 2: Calculate Slugging Percentage (SLG)
SLG = Total Bases / At Bats
SLG = 295 / 520
SLG ≈ 0.567
Step 3: Calculate On-Base Percentage (OBP)
OBP = (Hits + Walks + Hit By Pitch) / (At Bats + Walks + Hit By Pitch + Sacrifice Flies)
First, let’s find Hits:
Hits = Singles + Doubles + Triples + Home Runs
Hits = 120 + 30 + 5 + 25
Hits = 180
Now, plug into the OBP formula:
OBP = (180 + 60 + 8) / (520 + 60 + 8 + 12)
OBP = 248 / 600
OBP ≈ 0.413
Step 4: Calculate OPS
OPS = OBP + SLG
OPS = 0.413 + 0.567
OPS = 0.980
Slugger Sam has an impressive OPS of 0.980, indicating a truly elite offensive season. He’s getting on base frequently and hitting for significant power.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the formula for OPS?
A1: The formula for OPS is On-Base Percentage (OBP) + Slugging Percentage (SLG).
Q2: How do you calculate On-Base Percentage (OBP)?
A2: OBP = (Hits + Walks + Hit By Pitch) / (At Bats + Walks + Hit By Pitch + Sacrifice Flies).
Q3: How do you calculate Slugging Percentage (SLG)?
A3: SLG = Total Bases / At Bats. Total Bases are calculated as (Singles * 1) + (Doubles * 2) + (Triples * 3) + (Home Runs * 4).
Q4: Are RBIs and Runs Scored included in OPS?
A4: No, RBIs and runs scored are not directly included in the OPS calculation, as OPS focuses on a player’s individual ability to get on base and hit for power.
Q5: Is a higher OPS always better?
A5: Generally, yes. A higher OPS indicates a more effective offensive player. However, context matters, and metrics like OPS+ are useful for comparing players across different leagues and eras.
Q6: What is considered a “good” OPS?
A6: While benchmarks can vary slightly, an OPS of .800 or higher is typically considered good, with .900+ being excellent and 1.000+ being elite.
Q7: What is the difference between batting average and OPS?
A7: Batting average only measures hits per at-bat, ignoring walks and power. OPS combines on-base percentage (how often a player gets on base) and slugging percentage (how much power they hit with), providing a more complete picture of offensive performance.
By following these steps, you can confidently calculate OPS for any player and gain a deeper appreciation for their offensive contributions to the game of baseball. It’s a simple yet powerful metric that has become a cornerstone of modern baseball analytics.