Baseball Glossary › On-Base Plus Slugging
On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS)
On-base plus slugging (OPS) is a hitter's on-base percentage added to his slugging percentage. It joins the two halves of offense, how often a batter reaches base and how much power he hits for, into one number. A higher OPS is better, and it is written like .800 or, for elite hitters, above 1.000.
Formula
Worked example (illustrative numbers): a hitter has a .350 on-base percentage and a .450 slugging percentage.
OPS = .350 + .450 = .800
Athletics example: Nick Kurtz
Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz carries a career .389 on-base percentage and a .557 slugging percentage. See the full career line on the Nick Kurtz player page.
OPS = .389 + .557 = .946
His listed career OPS is .946. Career MLB totals from our player database (MLB Stats API).
What to Know
OPS vs batting average: batting average only counts hits and treats them all the same. OPS adds on-base percentage, which credits walks and hit-by-pitches, and slugging percentage, which rewards extra-base hits. That makes it a far better single-number snapshot of a hitter.
As a rough guide, FanGraphs' rule-of-thumb chart treats about .710 as average, .800 as above average, .900 as great and 1.000 as excellent, with the caveat that league-average OPS changes from year to year. FanGraphs also points out that OPS adds OBP and SLG together equally, even though getting on base is generally worth more, so it is best used alongside other stats.
OPS is not adjusted for ballpark or era. OPS+ takes care of that by scaling OPS so 100 is league average, which makes hitters from different parks and seasons easier to compare.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does OPS stand for in baseball?
OPS stands for on-base plus slugging. It is the sum of a hitter's on-base percentage and slugging percentage, combining how often he reaches base with how much power he shows.
How do you calculate OPS?
Add on-base percentage and slugging percentage. A hitter with a .350 OBP and a .450 SLG has an .800 OPS. There is no division step, because both parts are already rates.
What is a good OPS in baseball?
FanGraphs' rule-of-thumb chart treats about .710 as average, .800 as above average, .900 as great and 1.000 as excellent. These are estimates, since the league-average OPS rises and falls with the run environment.
Can OPS be over 1.000?
Yes. Because OPS adds two rates together, it can pass 1.000, and FanGraphs treats an OPS of 1.000 or higher as excellent. MLB.com notes Babe Ruth holds the highest career OPS in AL and NL history.
What is the difference between OPS and OPS+?
OPS is the raw sum of on-base and slugging percentage. OPS+ adjusts OPS for the ballpark and the league, then scales it so 100 is league average. A 120 OPS+ means 20 percent better than average.
Is OPS better than batting average?
For judging a hitter's overall offense, yes. FanGraphs describes OPS as a better metric than batting average because it accounts for walks and power, though it recommends using it together with other statistics.
Related Terms
Sources
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