OPS, or “On-base Plus Slugging”, is a statistic used to measure a baseball player’s overall offensive performance. It is a combination of a player’s on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG). OPS is often used to compare a player’s offensive performance against that of other players.
History of OPS
The concept of OPS was first introduced in the 1980s, created by baseball statistician Bill James. Since then, it has become one of the most commonly used offensive metrics in baseball, and is used to help evaluate a player’s overall offensive ability.
How is OPS Calculated?
OPS is calculated by adding a player’s on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG) together. OBP is calculated by taking the number of times a player reaches base by a hit, walk, hit by pitch, or fielder’s choice, and dividing it by the number of plate appearances. SLG is calculated by taking the number of total bases (hits, walks, extra-base hits, etc.) and dividing it by the number of at-bats.
The formula for calculating OPS is:
OPS = OBP + SLG
For example, if a player has an OBP of .350 and a SLG of .500, their OPS would be .850.
Why is OPS Important?
OPS is an important statistic in baseball because it measures a player’s overall offensive performance. It gives a more comprehensive look at a player’s offensive production than just looking at their batting average or home run total. OPS can also be used to compare a player’s offensive performance to other players in the league.
OPS is also useful because it takes into account a player’s ability to get on base. OBP is an important component of OPS because it measures a player’s ability to get on base without getting a hit. This can be important for teams looking to score runs or move runners into scoring position.
What is a Good OPS?
A good OPS will vary depending on the player and the league they are playing in. Generally, an OPS above .800 is considered to be good, while an OPS above 1.000 is considered to be excellent.
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the league average OPS for hitters is typically around .750. In 2020, the league average was .744. The highest OPS in the league belonged to Colorado Rockies’ third baseman Nolan Arenado, who had an OPS of 1.036.
Conclusion
OPS is a statistic used to measure a baseball player’s overall offensive performance. It is calculated by adding a player’s on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG). OPS is an important metric in baseball because it measures a player’s overall offensive production and can be used to compare a player’s performance to other players in the league. Generally, an OPS above .800 is considered to be good, while an OPS above 1.000 is considered to be excellent.