OPS, or On-Base Plus Slugging, is a statistic used in baseball to measure a player’s ability to get on base and hit for power. It is a combined statistic that encompasses the player’s on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG). OPS is an important statistic for hitters, as it allows coaches and scouts to compare a player’s offensive performance to that of other players. In this article, we will discuss how to calculate OPS in baseball.
On-Base Percentage (OBP)
On-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base. It is calculated by dividing the number of times the batter reaches base (hits, walks, and hit-by-pitches) by the total number of plate appearances (at-bats plus walks plus hit-by-pitches).
OBP = (Hits + Walks + Hit-by-Pitches) / (At-Bats + Walks + Hit-by-Pitches)
For example, if a hitter has 20 hits, 5 walks, and 1 hit-by-pitch in 100 plate appearances, his OBP would be calculated as follows:
OBP = (20 + 5 + 1) / (100) = 0.26
Slugging Percentage (SLG)
Slugging percentage is a measure of a hitter’s power. It is calculated by dividing total bases (1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple, and 4 for a home run) by the total number of at-bats.
SLG = Total Bases / At-Bats
For example, if a hitter has 20 hits (10 singles, 5 doubles, 3 triples, and 2 home runs) in 100 at-bats, his SLG would be calculated as follows:
SLG = (10 + 10 + 9 + 8) / 100 = 0.37
Calculating OPS
OPS is calculated by adding a player’s OBP and SLG.
OPS = OBP + SLG
Using our example above, the hitter’s OPS would be calculated as follows:
OPS = 0.26 + 0.37 = 0.63
Interpreting OPS
OPS is used to measure a player’s offensive performance. Generally speaking, an OPS of .750 or higher is considered excellent, while an OPS of .700 or higher is considered good. An OPS of .600 or higher is considered average, while an OPS of .500 or lower is considered poor.
Conclusion
OPS is an important statistic for measuring a player’s offensive performance in baseball. It is calculated by adding a player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Generally speaking, an OPS of .750 or higher is considered excellent, while an OPS of .700 or higher is considered good. An OPS of .600 or higher is considered average, while an OPS of .500 or lower is considered poor.