OPS, or On-base Plus Slugging, is a statistic used to measure a baseball player’s offensive production. It is used to evaluate a player’s ability to get on base and hit for power, which are two of the most important abilities for a successful hitter. OPS is calculated by adding the player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage. This gives a single number that can be used to compare players, and it is an important statistic for evaluating a player’s offensive performance.
Understanding On-Base Percentage
On-base percentage is a measure of a batter’s ability to get on base. It is calculated by dividing the number of times a batter reaches base (hits, walks, or hit-by-pitches) by their total number of plate appearances. The resulting percentage is an indication of how often the batter reaches base and is a key component of OPS.
For example, if a batter has 200 plate appearances and reaches base 60 times, their on-base percentage would be .300. This means that the batter gets on base 30% of the time.
Understanding Slugging Percentage
Slugging percentage is a measure of a batter’s power. It is calculated by dividing the number of total bases (singles, doubles, triples, and home runs) by the total number of at-bats. The resulting percentage is an indication of how many bases a batter is able to get when they make contact with the ball.
For example, if a batter has 200 at-bats and gets 100 total bases, their slugging percentage would be .500. This means that the batter is getting an average of .50 bases per at-bat.
Calculating OPS
OPS is calculated by adding together the player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage. For example, if a batter has an on-base percentage of .300 and a slugging percentage of .500, their OPS would be .800. This means that the batter is able to get on base 30% of the time, and when they make contact with the ball, they average .50 bases per at-bat.
OPS as a Measurement
OPS is a useful statistic for evaluating a player’s offensive performance. It is a single number that combines two important offensive skills (getting on base and hitting for power) and can be used to compare players.
OPS is not a perfect statistic, however. It does not account for speed (stolen bases, etc.), and it is not a great predictor of future performance. It should be used as one tool among many when evaluating players.
Conclusion
OPS is an important statistic used to measure a baseball player’s offensive production. It is calculated by adding the player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage and gives a single number that can be used to compare players. It is an important tool for evaluating hitters and should be used in conjunction with other statistics to get a complete picture of a player’s offensive performance.