1. What is OPS in Baseball?

OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) is a baseball statistic that combines a player's ability to get on base with their power hitting. It's the sum of on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG), providing a quick snapshot of a player's overall offensive contribution.

2. How is OPS Calculated?

The OPS formula is simple:

Where:

• \( OBP \) — On-base percentage (Hits + Walks + HBP) / (At Bats + Walks + HBP + Sacrifice Flies)
• \( SLG \) — Slugging percentage (Total Bases) / (At Bats)

Explanation: OBP measures how often a player reaches base, while SLG measures the power of their hits. Combining them gives a more complete picture of offensive value.

3. Importance of OPS

Details: OPS correlates well with run production and is widely used to evaluate hitters. It's simple to calculate but more comprehensive than traditional stats like batting average.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter OBP and SLG as decimals (e.g., 0.350 for 35%). Both values must be between 0 and 1 for OBP, and 0 to 4 for SLG (though values above 1.5 are extremely rare).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good OPS?
A: In MLB, average OPS is around 0.700. 0.800+ is very good, 0.900+ is excellent, and 1.000+ is MVP-caliber.

Q2: How does OPS compare to wOBA?
A: wOBA (weighted On-Base Average) is more precise as it weights different offensive events more accurately, but OPS is simpler and more widely used.

Q3: Can OPS be above 1.000?
A: Yes, though it's rare. The all-time single-season record is 1.422 by Babe Ruth in 1920.

Q4: What are the limitations of OPS?
A: It treats OBP and SLG as equally valuable (OBP is actually more valuable), and doesn't account for baserunning or situational hitting.

Q5: Is OPS used in player contracts?
A: Yes, OPS is often used as a performance metric in player contracts and arbitration cases.